Soccer Legend Ronaldo Looking to Buy Playboy in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil—Sources close to soccer legend Ronaldo have told Brazil's Extra newspaper that the retired striker is interested in purchasing the Playboy franchise in his native country.   Friends of the retired footballer claim Ronaldo believes his "Midas touch" can rejuvenate the publication, which has the third-largest readership among Playboy's international editions.  Brazilian Playboy is suffering the same woes many magazines in the publishing industry are facing; it's circulation is about a fourth of what it was since its heyday in the 1990s.  Since retiring in 2011, Ronaldo, widely considered one of the greatest soccer players of all-time, has amassed an impressive investment portfolio. In addition to endorsements from Nike, Fiat and Duracell, he also owns a chain of gyms, a nightclub and millions of dollars in real estate, including a private island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. By some estimates his net worth is over $1 billion.  The Sun reports that Ronaldo is close to making a bid on the Playboy empire.