Messi reaches preliminary deal for second-tier Eldense, expanding his football ownership portfolio.
Lionel Messi is moving deeper into football ownership, with the Argentine superstar now close to taking control of a professional club competing in Spain’s second division.
Messi Reaches Agreement With Eldense Owners
Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to acquire the shares held by Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S. in Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense, the club confirmed on September 9, 2026. The transaction would make the 39-year-old Inter Miami forward Eldense’s majority shareholder, although the deal still requires completion of legal and contractual procedures, due diligence, and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council.
Deal Would Give Messi Second Spanish Club
If completed, Eldense would become Messi’s second club investment in Spain. Earlier this year, he acquired UE Cornellà, a fifth-tier club based near Barcelona that is known for its youth development program. The move suggests Messi is steadily building a football investment portfolio alongside the final stages of his playing career.
Eldense Fighting Near Bottom of Segunda Division
CD Eldense are based in Elda, in Spain’s Alicante province, and play at the Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium. The club currently sits near the bottom of the Segunda Division, having collected only two points from its opening four matches and recently dismissing coach Claudio Barragán. Eldense have spent much of their history in Spain’s lower divisions but have competed in the second tier in three of the past four seasons.
Acquisition Could Support Eldense’s Ambitions
Messi’s arrival as majority owner could raise Eldense’s international profile and potentially strengthen its commercial appeal, although Spanish financial regulations limit how freely owners can increase spending on players. The club has climbed rapidly from regional football in recent years, and new ownership would bring one of the sport’s most recognizable names into its long-term development plans.
Messi Builds Post-Playing Business Portfolio
The proposed Eldense acquisition adds to Messi’s growing interests beyond playing football. In addition to UE Cornellà, he is involved in Uruguay’s Deportivo LSM and is expected to receive an ownership interest in Inter Miami after his playing contract ends. His move follows a wider trend of elite footballers investing in clubs, turning careers on the field into longer-term roles in football ownership and management.
Messi’s planned acquisition of Eldense could transform a relatively modest Spanish club into one with significant global visibility while extending his influence in football beyond his playing career. For Indonesian and Singaporean football fans, the deal offers another example of how superstar players are increasingly becoming investors and decision-makers within the global football industry.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Detik Sport (2026)
Keywords: Lionel Messi Eldense, Messi Club Ownership, CD Eldense Acquisition, Spanish Second Division, Messi Football Investment, UE Cornella
