Soccer legend Ronaldinho Assis has joined the ownership group of Greenville Pro Soccer, which operates Greenville Triumph SC and Greenville Liberty.
The deal was signed Oct. 9 after Ronaldinho rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, according to a news release.
Ronaldinho, considered among the greatest players in history, won the World Cup in 2002 with Brazil. His 17-year professional career featured time at high-profile clubs such as Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. His international career included 97 appearances for Brazil’s senior team.
It is the latest addition to the Greenville Pro Soccer ownership group, which has added several new investors in recent months. The Triumph and Liberty currently play matches at Furman University’s Paladin Stadium, and previously played at Legacy Early College. The club has been attempting for several years to get a new stadium built.
The new investment also comes as the next World Cup approaches. The largest event on the soccer calendar will be held June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Some of the games will be played in Atlanta, and the 48 nations competing will be traveling and practicing throughout North America.
In addition to Ronaldinho, the Greenville Pro Soccer ownership group now includes club co-founder and chairman Joe Erwin and his wife Gretchen Erwin; Wallace Cheves; William M. Webster IV; Rick Pennell; Jim Casey; Doug Erwin; and Shannon Wilbanks.
“We are honored to welcome Ronaldinho into the Triumph family,” Erwin said. “His influence in the sport is unmatched, and his presence within our ownership group speaks volumes about the direction we are heading as a club.”
Cheves, founder of SkyBoat Gaming and principal of Cheves Capital, has an existing investment partnership with Ronaldinho and brought the former soccer star on board after joining the GPS ownership group in July.
The Triumph, a men’s professional team, competes in USL League One and won the league championship in 2020. The Liberty, a women’s pre-professional team, plays in the USL W League.
