Ronaldo pivots to TV drama as retirement looms, starring Henry

Cristiano Ronaldo announced on Instagram that production has started on “Day 1s,” his first TV drama, which reportedly features Thierry Henry. Days after retiring from the Portugal national team, the 41‑year‑old all‑time leading scorer and most‑capped men’s international player revealed he is moving into television.

A New Television Venture

Cristiano Ronaldo is adding a new venture to his off‑field portfolio. He posted on Instagram that production of his first TV show, Day 1s, has just started, writing: “Exciting news! More to come!”.

The series is a scripted drama set in the world of British soccer, exploring business, power struggles and high‑stakes relationships behind a fictional elite agency. According to The Sun, it follows a high‑flying sports agent named Stanley Dalton, reportedly played by Damian Lewis. The concept was reportedly co‑created by Darren Dein, a real‑life soccer agent who represents Thierry Henry and serves as an executive producer.

Thierry Henry, the Arsenal and France legend, was reportedly spotted filming scenes at Barnet’s ground in north London, and British rapper Dave is also said to have a prominent role. Day 1s is the flagship production of UR•Marv, the independent media company Ronaldo and director Matthew Vaughn launched in April 2025. The name combines Ronaldo’s personal ‘UR’ brand, used on his ‘UR Cristiano’ YouTube channel, with Vaughn’s established Marv banner. Vaughn, also behind Kingsman, reportedly directs the series while Ronaldo is attached as both executive producer and actor.

Life After International Retirement

The announcement comes less than a week after Ronaldo, 41, retired from international soccer on Nov. 5, ending a 23‑year career with Portugal. He continues to play for Al Nassr, where his contract runs until June 2027, while expanding his business interests off the pitch. When the partnership was first unveiled, the filmmaker told Variety that Ronaldo has created stories on the pitch that he could never have written and that he looks forward to creating inspiring movies with him, calling him a real‑life superhero.

Although Ronaldo has previously appeared on screen, he has not done so in a scripted role. He starred in the 2015 documentary Ronaldo and made recurring appearances in the Netflix docuseries of his partner Georgina Rodriguez. Day 1s would therefore mark his acting debut, a step that follows more than two decades of building his brand far beyond the pitch.