Spotted: 16 sports stars on luxury yacht vacations

Brazilian football player Neymar Jr. was spotted enjoying an end-of-year break on board a luxury yacht in his home country in December 2017. Neymar was joined on board by his son Davi Lucca, girlfriend Bruna Marquezine, fellow Paris Saint-Germain player Kevin Trapp and Trapp's girlfriend, Brazilian model Izabel Goulart. The group spent their time on board soaking up some winter sun and exploring Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago in Pernambuco, before the football season resumed in January.

As a hugely successful Olympic swimmer it is perhaps no surprise that Michael Phelps looks as at home on the water as he does in it. The American athlete rang in the start of Fourth of July weekend 2017 on board a luxury yacht with his wife Nicole and son Boomer during a vacation to celebrate his 32nd birthday. However, with the retired swimmer recently confirming his next big race would be against a Great White shark perhaps he managed to slip a little open water training into his holiday as well.

Tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki and her boyfriend, NBA star David Lee, shared this snap from an idyllic luxury yacht vacation in Sardinia in June 2017. The sporting couple took some time out in the Italian destination, which recently hosted the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta, during a break between the French Open and Wimbledon tennis tournaments which happily coincided with the end of the US basketball season on June 12.

F1 champion Lewis Hamilton was spotted taking a break from the intensity of the Monaco Grand Prix on board a luxury yacht in the famous boating hotspot in May 2017. Although Hamilton did not confirm which yacht he was on, it is believed he spent time aboard 81 metre Alfa Nero with friend and model Winnie Harlow.

However, this is far from Hamilton's first yachting experience. The driver was seen relaxing before the Hungarian Grand Prix on board 46.8 metre sailing superyacht Roxane in St Tropez in July 2016 and, prior to that, celebrated his win at the Monaco Grand Prix 2016 on board a luxury yacht in the French Riviera where he was joined by fellow sports star Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union, as well as model Barbara Palvin. Hamilton chose 73 metre superyacht Vicky for that celebrity yacht charter, but is also known to be a fan of both Axioma and Amadeus - the superyachts on which he visited vacationing celebrities Kendall Jenner and Magic Johnson in summer 2015.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema got over his disappointment at being left out of the French national team for the Euro 2016 finals in the best way possible this weekend (July 10) - on board a superyacht. The footballer was spotted in St Tropez on board 37 metre Harun where he made good use of the yacht's top Jet Skis and shared this snap emphasising just how large his yacht of choice was. Should Benzema be particularly taken with the yacht the option to buy her is open as Harun is currently listed for sale with G-Yachts for €8 million.

Far from the wild parties he may have enjoyed as an up-and-coming young footballer, Chelsea captain John Terry treated his family to a holiday aboard O'Pari 3 in Montenegro in summer 2016. Terry was joined by his wife and children on board the 71 metre yacht, which is available for charter with Atalanta Golden Yachts Athens from €550,000 per week, and the family made good use of her extensive toy box.

The Terry family enjoy superyacht vacations on a seemingly annual basis and were spotted spending time on _O’Pati _in 2015. The 39.5 metre Golden Yachts vessel, which is also listed for charter with Atalanta, cuts a striking figure with its black and red paint job and offers charter guests a variety of water toys for children.

O'Pati is also for sale with Ocean Independence.

Portuguese footballing star Cristiano Ronaldo made the most of his time off before the start of the European Championships 2016 with a luxury yacht charter in Ibiza. Ronaldo was joined by a group of friends on board the 36.5 metre Palmer Johnson yacht Ascari and was spotted enjoying her superyacht slide, jet skis and other water toys.

Ronaldo is known to be a superyacht fan and frequently charters luxury yachts in his time off from Spanish football club Real Madrid. In December 2014 he opted for a superyacht charter in Dubai and was later spotted soaking up some sun on Lionchase in the French Riviera.

Ex-NRL star and founder of children's fitness scheme MiniFit, Anthony Minichiello, celebrated Australia Day on January 26 aboard a luxury yacht in Sydney. The ex-rugby player was joined by his wife Terry Biviano on board host John Symond's 26.21 metre Horizon Xanadu.

Minichiello is known to be a keen sailor and was one of the celebrities spotted at the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2015. The sports star joined Wallabies player Kurtley Beale and television presenter Erin Molan as part of the team on board Perpetual Loyal.

Having recently signed a £23 million deal with Manchester United, ex-PSV Eindhoven footballer Memphis Depay had a lot to celebrate in summer 2016 - and where better to do it than on a superyacht? The young star took to social media to post a picture of himself and fellow PSV Eindhoven player Tufan Ozbozkurt diving from the sun deck of a large yacht. As the video below shows, their diving technique is far less impressive than their footballing skills.

Retired Chicago Bulls star and six-time NBA winner Scottie Pippen is rarely seen off his 30 metre Burger yacht Lady Larsa. Named for his wife – Real Housewives of Miami reality TV star Larsa Pippen – the couple bought the custom yacht in 2001 and have been posting envy-inducing images from it ever since.