Messi the owner! Inter Miami star agrees to buy Spanish club Eldense
Lionel Messi is building a football empire long before hanging up his boots: the Argentine has reportedly agreed to buy Spanish club Eldense.
Details: According to Marca, Messi has reached an agreement to purchase Eldense, the club from Elda playing in the second tier of Spanish football. It would be his second Spanish acquisition of 2026 after buying fifth division side UE Cornella back in April, where he took 100 percent of the shares.
The move deepens Messi's growing ties to Spanish football ownership as his playing career winds down. Still under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, the 39 year old has been quietly assembling a portfolio that also includes co-ownership of Uruguayan third division side Deportivo LSM alongside his friend Luis Suarez. Eldense represent a step up in ambition: a club with over a century of history that came agonizingly close to La Liga promotion in 2023 and currently battles in the Segunda Division. For a player whose legend was forged in Spain, the pull of building something in the country that made him appears stronger with every passing season, even as he continues scoring for fun across the Atlantic.
It's worth noting that Messi's first purchase, UE Cornella, is famous for producing Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Barcelona defender Jordi Alba through its academy.
Reminder: Martinelli to leave Arsenal! Brazilian forward to join new club for €65 million.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
