Lionel Messi has bought Eldense, a club in the Spanish second division. The club confirmed the deal on Thursday. Eldense were previously owned by Grupo TH, a Colombian investment group that also has clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.
The club released a statement about the takeover. It said Messi’s arrival marks the start of a long-term project. The goal is to develop the club on the sporting, institutional, and social levels. The deal still needs approval from Spain’s National Sports Council.
This is the second Spanish club Messi has invested in. Earlier this year, he bought Cornellà, a fifth-division team based near Barcelona. Cornellà are semi-professional. Eldense will be the first professional club he owns in Spain.
Messi, who is 39, is also part-owned by Uruguay side Deportivo LSM. He invested in that club alongside his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.
For now, owning both Eldense and Cornellà should not cause problems. The two clubs are three divisions apart. But it is unclear if this will limit Messi’s plans for Cornellà. The Spanish football federation is unlikely to allow both clubs to play in the same division if Messi is the majority owner of both.
Eldense was founded in 1921. For most of their history, they have played outside Spain’s top two divisions. They were promoted to the second tier in 2023, their first time there since 1964. They were relegated in 2025 but returned again this summer. This season, they have not won any of their four games. Coach Claudio Barragán was sacked earlier this week, leaving the club without a manager.
Eldense play at the Nuevo Pepico Amat. It is a small stadium in the city of Elda with a capacity of 5,776. This is the third time the club has changed owners in the past year.
…Five Clubs and Projects Shaping His Post-Playing Legacy
Lionel Messi is famous for his playing career. But he is also building a business in soccer. He now has ties to five clubs or projects in different countries. Here is a look at each one.
The newest project is Eldense. This is a Spanish club that plays in the second division, known as LaLiga Hypermotion. Eldense is 105 years old. It recently returned to the second tier. Messi has taken over as owner. The outgoing president, Carolina Holguín, said she is leaving the club in the best hands. She asked Messi to look after it, respect its supporters, and bring big dreams to the city.
Messi also owns UE Cornellà. That club is based in Catalonia, near Barcelona. Cornellà is known for its youth academy. It has helped develop players who went on to play at higher levels. For Messi, this project is about young talent and building from the academy up.
In the United States, Messi plays for Inter Miami. His role there goes beyond playing. There is an agreement for him to become a shareholder in the club after he retires. That makes him part of the club’s long-term future. He is working with David Beckham to build something that can last in American soccer.
Messi also has projects in South America. In Uruguay, he teamed up with Luis Suárez to create Deportivo LSM. The club started in amateur soccer but has grown quickly. It focuses on modern facilities and developing young players. In Argentina, Messi is connected to Leones de Rosario. That club is run by people close to him, including family. It is part of Argentina’s official soccer system. The project also has emotional meaning because Rosario is Messi’s hometown.
FAQs
Q. Which Spanish club has Lionel Messi bought?
A. Messi has bought second-division club Eldense.
Q. Which other Spanish club does Messi own?
A. Messi also owns fifth-division club UE Cornellà.
Q. Which club does Messi play for in the United States?
A. Messi plays for Inter Miami.
Q. Who co-owns Deportivo LSM with Messi?
A. Luis Suárez co-owns Deportivo LSM with Messi.
Q. Where was Lionel Messi born?
A. Messi was born in Rosario, Argentina.
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