Every collection has its most prized possessions: often, they are the rarest and therefore the most valuable, at other times they are the ones we have grown most fond of. These two things often coincide, but the point is that the passion of collectors can be so enormous and endless that it leads to rich, practically unrepeatable collections. Think, for example, of sports people and their love of luxury cars: every day you can read an article on a new limited-edition super car purchased by an athlete, the latest prototype destined to end up in the garage of a footballer, a basketball player or – why not? – an Olympic champion who is one of the very fastest people in the world. We can say that the triangle of world class athletes, luxury cars and collecting provides a continual source of hype, as well as fuelling both legends and fierce competition to establish who has the best stocked and most futuristic car collection. But what are the most exclusive and fastest cars owned by sporting greats? We have selected five of the best.
LeBron James's Lamborghini Aventador
A “King” like LeBron cannot help but drive a car worthy of his nickname. One car, for example, that stands out in the Lakers man/monarch's collection is a Lamborghini Aventador customised with a floral motif, taken from a pattern used by his main supplier, Nike, to create a pair of exclusive game shoes for LeBron. Returning to the car itself, the yellow and green streaks adorn one of the most sparkling jewels ever created by the company from Emilia. The first version of the Aventador was released in 2011, and ever since the very first model, enthusiasts have been struck by the power of the engine. It wasthe first Lamborghini prototype made with a carbon fibre shell. December 2014 saw the launch of a limited edition dedicated to Pirelli – the LP 700-4 Pirelli Edition – to celebrate 50 years of collaboration between the two companies.
Leo Messi's Pagani Zonda Tricolore
According to the latest classification from Forbes, Lionel Messi is the highest-earning sportsman in the world – at EUR 130 million a year. It was practically inevitable that the captain of Argentina, and newly crowned world champion would receive one of the most expensive and unique cars in the world: the wonderful Pagani Zonda Tricolore, made to celebrate the 50thbirthday of the Frecce Tricolore, the Italian aerobatic display team. The car is fitted with Pirelli tyres, enjoys 670 horsepower, goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and is not able to travel on roads, only on the racetrack. To own it, the world-class footballer from Paris Saint-Germain spent EUR 1.7 million.
Serena Williams's Bentley Continental GT
Serena Williams dominated the tennis courts for nearly 15 years, winning some 23 grand slams: she is considered one of the greatest tennis players in history. The recently retired player has never hidden her passion for luxury and also for cars, particularly British ones. In her ample collection, the Bentley Continental GT, valued at more than EUR 300,000, stands out. This car offers incredible performance: it has a top speed of 310 km/h and can travel from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds. The model isn't only fast, but in the true Bentley style is also extremely elegant, a coupé, and with super deluxe extras inside.
Marcell Jacobs' Lamborghini Huracan Spyder
Marcell Jacobs' passion for cars first came to public attention when he tried out a Ferrari model on the track for the occasion of the Monza Formula 1 Grand Prix. His Instagram profile often features photos of his various rides, including of one of his most recent purchases, the Lamborghini Huracan Spyder. It is a true gem of design that unites the sportiness of supercars with the elegance of Italian design. It also has the performance to match: it can do 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds and 0 to 200 in 10.2 seconds. Its maximum speed is 340 km/h. The fastest man in the world couldn't help but love it.
Neymar's Porsche Panamera Turbo S
When it comes to engines, the Brazilian spares no expense. The many cars in his garage include, for instance, a Porsche Panamera Turbo S that the footballer has come to cherish. The model was actually bought after he won a bet with his father: he would be able to buy it if he scored two goals in the final of the Under-20 South America Championship. Naturally, Neymar bagged a brace. The car is worth approximately EUR 200,000, can reach 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, and its top speed is 305 km/h. The Panamera is an essential car in the history of Porsche: with it, they united the speed of a sports car with the comfort of a saloon.
