Messi's majority stake launches Eldense into Spain's second division
While Lionel Messi continues to dazzle for Inter Miami in the MLS, the Argentine legend has quietly become the majority shareholder of CD Eldense, a club competing in Spain's Segunda División. The announcement, shared with a Foto from Messi’s Instagram, marks a striking contrast between his on‑field exploits in the United States and his off‑field ambitions in European football.
New ownership and the club’s profile
Eldense, founded in 1921, announced that Messi is now the principal investor, describing him as “one of the most important figures in sport”. The club, based in a town of just over 55,000 inhabitants, currently fields around 3,500 season ticket holders and plays at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, a stadium with capacity for roughly 5,800 spectators.
Sporting context and aspirations
At the start of the 2024‑25 campaign Eldense sit 19th in the Segunda, battling relegation. The club’s official note says Messi’s involvement offers a chance to return to LaLiga, the Spanish top flight, and to “consolidate and grow” its professional football activities.
The acquisition still requires approval from the Spanish sports authorities under the Lei do Esporte da Espanha before it can be finalised.
Messi’s broader football portfolio
This is Messi’s second Spanish investment. In April 2026 he purchased UD Cornellà, a Catalan side that competes in the Tercera RFEF, the fifth tier of Spanish football. Unlike Eldense, Cornellà is not a professional club.
Beyond Spain, Messi and his long‑time teammate Luis Suárez co‑founded the Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM in 2018, which entered the fourth division of Uruguay in 2025. The project, originally started by Suárez in 2022, sees Messi as a silent partner providing support and promotion.
Messi’s ties to Inter Miami remain strong. Since joining the MLS side in 2023, he has helped the club win three titles and now holds a contractual option to acquire shares and become a co‑owner after his playing career ends. A tribune bearing his name already exists at the new NU Stadium, home of Las Garzas.