Spanish football legend Iker Casillas is now an ambassador for the crypto casino Stake

Iker Casillas announced his new partnership with Stake on his social media channels.

Stake, one of the world’s largest online casino operators, chose this moment strategically: Casillas will serve as a global brand ambassador as part of the company’s buildup to the 2026 World Cup.

Casillas is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time — a 2010 World Cup champion and multiple winner of the Champions League, European trophies, and national titles with Real Madrid and Porto. Beyond football, he develops his own sports projects and has an audience of more than 65 million followers.

Why This Ambassador Deal Matters for Stake

According to Stake’s CMO, Akhil Sarin, bringing Casillas on board highlights the company’s ambitions ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The brand plans to leverage his expertise and popularity for content, match insights, and fan-focused activities.

Such an ambassador deal gives the casino instant global visibility, stronger brand credibility, and access to a massive audience that already trusts the athlete. It boosts engagement through exclusive content and fan activities, helps the brand stand out in a competitive market, and builds momentum ahead of major sports events.

Casillas said he is pleased with the partnership and sees new and exciting opportunities in this collaboration.

Stake’s Previous Star Ambassadors

Stake has worked with several well-known ambassadors before Casillas. These include:

• Canadian music star Drake, who has appeared in branded livestreams and campaigns

• former Argentina and Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero as a football ambassador

• UFC fighters like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira

• MMA champion Valentina Shevchenko as a global ambassador. 

• Stake also appointed legendary jockey Frankie Dettori to broaden its sports representation.

Recently, we reported that UFC fighter Conor McGregor launched his own online casino — a move that followed his ambassador role at the major crypto-based casino Duelbits in 2024. We’re not claiming that Casillas will one day join the growing list of celebrities creating their own casinos, but the trend is certainly noteworthy.