Lionel Messi poured a reported $70-80 million into securing 100 percent ownership of CD Eldense earlier this month, officially making it his second Spanish club. The soccer legend isn’t just easing into retirement, he’s already making huge moves to shape his post-playing career. Messi, who’s 38 and has hung up his international boots, is clearly eyeing a future as a major investor and owner in the sport that made him a global icon. He’s now the sole owner of two Spanish clubs, planting some serious flags for his ownership portfolio.
The Eldense Investment: Big Money, Big Questions
Messi’s latest acquisition, CD Eldense, is a second-tier Spanish side. The club confirmed on September 8 that the purchase contract was finalized, with Messi buying them from the Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S. This is a massive play, considering Eldense’s history. They’ve never even sniffed the Spanish top flight, spending almost all their existence chilling in the third and fourth tiers before earning a promotion to the second tier in 2023. You gotta wonder, why Eldense? This isn’t just a small-time buy; it’s a significant financial commitment for a club with a history that includes a 2017 match-fixing scandal, where five individuals were arrested and a dozen players were released. Messi is putting serious cash into a club that definitely needs a turnaround story, and he’s betting big on their future.
Building the Empire: From Cornella to Miami?
This isn’t Messi’s first rodeo as a club owner, either. He kicked things off in April of this year by grabbing a 100 percent stake in UE Cornella, a fifth-tier club based in Catalonia. That first dive into ownership reportedly cost him around €2 million, which is about $2.3 million. Cornella had seen better days, playing in the third tier before suffering back-to-back relegations in 2024 and 2025, dropping them to the fifth tier right before Messi stepped in. So, he’s buying up clubs that need some love and a major push. And get this: there are even whispers that his contract with Inter Miami includes an option for him to secure an ownership stake in the MLS club once he retires from playing. He’s not there yet, but imagine Messi owning a piece of a US team too?
It’s pretty wild to think about. Messi is clearly mapping out his future beyond the pitch, and it looks like it involves a whole lot of club ownership. With two Spanish clubs already in his pocket and a potential third with Inter Miami on the horizon, his post-playing career is shaping up to be every bit as impactful as his playing days. What’s his next move gonna be?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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