Lionel Messi has completed the purchase of Spanish second-division club CD Eldense, the Alicante-based team announced on their website. The deal, pending regulatory approval, follows Messi’s acquisition of Catalan side Cornella in April, making Eldense the second Spanish club owned by the Argentina forward.
CD Eldense, founded over a century ago, currently sit 19th out of 22 teams in the Segunda División, with one win and five points from their first seven matches. The club’s official statement described Messi’s arrival as “the beginning of a long-term project aimed at promoting the club’s sporting, institutional, and social development.”
Messi, 39, agreed to become Eldense’s majority shareholder in a preliminary deal announced in September. He is best known for his record-breaking career at Barcelona, where he scored 672 goals in 778 appearances after debuting at 17 in October 2004. The forward left Barcelona in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain, then moved to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer in 2023.
The Argentine won the 2022 World Cup and retired from international football in August. His involvement in Spanish football ownership follows the example of former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who acquired a 25% stake in La Liga club Almeria earlier this year.
Eldense’s statement did not disclose financial details of the transaction. The club’s current standing in the league adds urgency to Messi’s promise of a “long-term project” designed to improve both performance on the pitch and the club’s broader profile.
Messi’s investment in Eldense comes amid a growing trend of top players moving into club ownership, particularly in Spain’s lower divisions. His presence as majority shareholder offers a significant boost to a club struggling near the relegation zone.
This move adds a new chapter to Messi’s relationship with Spanish football, which began when he moved from Argentina at 13. It also follows his recent retirement from international duty, suggesting a shift in focus toward football ventures beyond his playing career.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s stake in Almeria, acquired in February, reflects a similar pattern among star players seeking roles as club investors while continuing their playing careers elsewhere.
For Eldense, Messi’s takeover has immediate implications. The club’s current league position means survival in the second division will be central to the new ownership’s priorities. The coming months will reveal how much influence the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner exerts beyond the boardroom.
According to Joy Online.
