Messi finalises acquisition of second Spanish football club

Superstar footballer Lionel Messi has officially acquired CD Eldense, the Spanish second-division club announced Thursday. 

Eldense, based just in-land from Alicante, have become the former Barcelona attacker's second venture into Spanish football ownership after his purchase of fifth-tier Unió Esportiva Cornellà, near Barcelona, in April.

"Club Deportivo Eldense officially announces the acquisition of the club by Leo Messi, marking the start of a new and exciting chapter in the institution’s history," the club wrote in an online statement. 

"The arrival in Spanish professional football of one of the most important figures in the history of the sport as the owner of CD Eldense marks the start of a project with a long-term vision, aimed at driving the sporting, institutional and social development of CD Eldense," it continued.

"Founded in 1921, CD Eldense embark on this new chapter with the ambition to consolidate their position and grow in professional football."

The club has never played in La Liga, Spain’s top flight. After seven matches of the new season, the club is 19th of 22 clubs, potentially facing relegation to the third tier.

Messi, 39, has been playing for Inter Miami since 2023, where, according to media reports, his contract includes a provision for him to become a shareholder in the MLS club after he retires from the game. 

The Rosario-born wonder has stepped up his commercial activities this year. He announced the acquisition of Cornellà football club in April, and agreed to buy a well-known building in Barcelona in May. An Argentine restaurant chain he partially owns announced last month that it would expand to Spain. 

Buying Eldense would add to the Argentine’s growing club stable, as he expands his business activities. Messi’s family founded a club in Argentina called Leones and he owns a stake in a Uruguayan club with teammate Luis Suárez.

Messi hasn’t explained the broader strategy for his business portfolio. Although it’s becoming more common for players and former players to buy small clubs, it’s unusual for one to own a portfolio. Some of the world’s biggest clubs and investors do own teams in different countries.

Beyond football, Messi’s business interests also include a real-estate investment trust listed in Spain and a US-based venture capital fund. 

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner announced his retirement from international football in late August following the loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

He will bid farewell to fans at a friendly match next Saturday against Benin at River Plate’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.