Lionel Messi is already making investments for his post-playing career after agreeing in principle to become the 100% owner of CD Eldense.
Lionel Messi is returning to Spanish football not as a player, as an owner, after he has reached an agreement in principle to become the owner of Segunda Division club, Club Deportivo Eldense.
According to reports from Marca in Spain, Messi will become the majority shareholder of CD Eldense and acquire all 100% shares in the football club, without the involvement of third party shareholders.
The recently retired Argentine international’s purchase of CD Eldense is subject to the approval of Spain’s Higher Sports Council. Marca believes if approved, the deal could be finalised and settled in the coming days.
CD Eldense would add to Messi’s previous Spanish football club investment after completing the acquisition of UE Cornellá in April 2026, a football club competing in the fifth-tier of Spanish football.
CD Eldense is based in Alicante in the town of Elda, approximately a 320 mile drive away from Barcelona, his former home where he played for FC Barcelona for 16 years and lived even longer when he arrived as a 13-year-old in 2000.
Spanish reports believe once Messi is retired from club football, where he is currently playing in Major League Soccer (MLS) for Inter Miami, he will return to live in Barcelona to operate his new business ventures.
Why did Messi buy Eldense?
The close proximity between Alicante and Barcelona will have played a key factor in Messi’s decision to pursue a bid to acquire CD Eldense.
The Segunda Division club were promoted from the third division after achieving promotion in the 2025/26 season. They were relegated from the Segunda Division after the 2024/25 season.
In its 104-year history, Eldense has never competed in La Liga. The club currently sits 20th in Segunda Division with two points after four games during the start of the 2026/27 season. The club recently sacked its Manager, Claudio Barragan, and is currently looking for a new coach.
Messi would acquire Eldense from current owner TH Soluciones Group, an investment group based in Colombia.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) would likely clear Messi’s acquisition of Eldense despite also being the owner of UE Cornella.
This is because Cornella is three divisions below Eldense, classifying Cornella as semi-professional as only La Liga and Segunda Division teams are deemed professional in Spain.
Messi owns 25% of Cornella so in the event Cornella becomes a recognised professional Spanish football team, an exit from his ownership stake in the club would be smooth if he opted to remain as the 100% owner of Eldense.
The Argentine World Cup winning captain follows former Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique in acquiring an ownership stake in a Spanish football club FC Andorra, as well as Sergio Ramos after he was part of a consortium that acquired his boyhood club, Sevilla.
Messi vs. Ronaldo – with a twist
Messi’s ownership of Eldense follows in the footsteps of his long-time on-pitch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who acquired a 25% stake in UD Almeria in February 2026.
Almeria and Eldense will compete against each other in the Segunda Division this season. The clubs faced one another for the first game of the season, with Almeria beating Eldense 3-0 on 17 August.
The next time the two clubs will compete against each other will be on 2 May, 2027.
Messi’s transaction to complete the takeover of Eldense will more than likely be cleared by regulators before the match against Almeria and could see him and Ronaldo compete against one another once again, only this time in the ownership boxes.
