Lionel Messi has taken another major step beyond his playing career after officially becoming the majority owner of Spanish club CD Eldense.
The Argentina superstar is expanding his involvement in football from the pitch into club ownership, with Eldense becoming the second Spanish club to enter his portfolio in 2026.
Eldense, who compete in Spain’s Segunda Division, announced the development on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The club described Messi’s arrival as the beginning of a long-term project focused on developing its sporting, institutional and social sides.
However, the transaction is still subject to authorisation from Spain’s Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), in accordance with the country’s sports regulations.
The agreement had reportedly reached an initial stage in September, with Messi understood to have agreed to acquire 100 per cent of Eldense’s shares from a Colombian investment group.
Lionel Messi Adds Eldense to His Spanish Football Portfolio
Eldense is the second Spanish club associated with Messi ownership plans in 2026.
Earlier in April, the former Barcelona star acquired UE Cornella, a club competing in the fifth tier of Spanish football.
The acquisition of Eldense represents another significant development in Messi’s growing involvement in the business side of football.
While Messi remains an active professional footballer, his latest move shows that his activities within the sport are increasingly extending beyond his career as a player.
Eldense’s long history also gives the project an interesting foundation.
The club was established in 1921 and is based in Alicante. It currently competes in the Segunda Division, Spain’s second tier of professional football.
In its announcement, Eldense welcomed Messi’s arrival as the beginning of a new chapter and highlighted ambitions to continue developing within professional football.
Key details of Messi’s Eldense takeover:
- Messi has become the majority owner of CD Eldense.
- The club competes in Spain’s Segunda Division.
- Eldense was founded in 1921.
- The transaction still requires CSD authorisation.
- The agreement reportedly involves the acquisition of 100 per cent of the club’s shares.
- Eldense previously belonged to a Colombian investment group.
- Messi already owns UE Cornella, another Spanish club.
Eldense Face a Difficult Start to the Season
Messi’s arrival comes at a challenging moment for Eldense on the pitch.
The Alicante-based club have made a difficult start to the current Segunda Division campaign and are sitting in the lower part of the standings.
According to a report from The Sun on October 2, Eldense had recorded only one domestic victory during the early stages of the season.
That situation means the club has immediate sporting challenges to address alongside its longer-term ambitions.
Eldense will need to improve its results if it wants to maintain its position in Spanish professional football.
The club plays its home matches at Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat, which has a capacity of approximately 5,776 spectators.
For the new ownership project, the sporting situation could therefore become one of the first areas requiring attention.
Messi Remains Focused on His Career at Inter Miami
Despite taking on a new role as a club owner, Messi has not yet stepped away from his own playing career.
The 39-year-old continues to represent Inter Miami and remains involved with the Argentina national team.
Messi is scheduled to feature in a friendly against Benin on October 6, 2026.
The match is expected to be his final appearance for Argentina after he announced his decision to retire from international football.
This creates an interesting period in Messi’s career.
While he continues to compete professionally on the field, he is simultaneously building a growing presence in football ownership.
The Eldense acquisition is another indication that his involvement in the sport could continue long after his playing career eventually comes to an end.
Messi Could Have a Wider Role in Football Ownership
Messi’s ownership activities are not limited to Spain.
Alongside Eldense and UE Cornella, the Argentine star has also been linked with the possibility of acquiring a minority stake in Inter Miami after eventually retiring as a player.
That potential development would further strengthen his connection with the club where he currently plays.
For now, however, Eldense represents the latest confirmed step in his expansion into club ownership.
The move also gives Messi exposure to a different side of football, where sporting development, finances, infrastructure and long-term planning become central priorities.
His two Spanish clubs operate at very different levels, with Eldense competing in the Segunda Division and Cornella playing in the fifth tier.
That could potentially give Messi’s football portfolio a presence across multiple levels of the Spanish football system.
Messi Still Chasing Individual Honours
Even as his business activities grow, Messi remains focused on what happens on the pitch.
The Argentina captain has been included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Former Tottenham Hotspur player Cristian Romero has also described Messi as a candidate to win the prestigious individual award again.
If Messi were to claim the prize, it would represent his ninth Ballon d’Or triumph.
For the moment, however, Messi faces a busy period that combines several different aspects of his career.
He remains an active player with Inter Miami, is preparing for what could be his final Argentina appearance, and is now involved in another Spanish football project through Eldense.
A New Chapter for Lionel Messi
The acquisition of Eldense marks another important development in Lionel Messi’s life in football.
For years, his influence was primarily measured through goals, trophies and individual awards. Now, the 39-year-old is beginning to build a different legacy through club ownership.
Eldense’s immediate priority remains improving its sporting situation in the Segunda Division, while the wider project is expected to focus on the club’s long-term development.
The transaction still requires approval from Spain’s sports authorities, meaning the process is not completely finalised from a regulatory perspective.
Nevertheless, Messi’s growing portfolio signals that his relationship with football is beginning to extend well beyond his playing career.
With Eldense joining UE Cornella, Messi now has two Spanish clubs within his ownership portfolio while he continues to pursue achievements on the pitch.
ALSO READ :
