After having etched his name in the history of Spanish football on the pitch with FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi is now preparing his return to the Iberian landscape… but in a completely different role.
Like the case of his Portuguese rival CR7, Leo has reached a principle of agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of CD Eldense, a second-division club, and could thus take sole command of a new professional team.
The operation would not be carried out with other former players or a group of investors. Messi would act alone and become the owner of the club based in Elda, in the province of Alicante. An ambition that illustrates the former Barcelona player’s willingness to get more involved in football management, beyond his activity as a player.
In April 2026, Messi had already taken control of UE Cornellà, a participant in the Catalan regional divisions. With Eldense, he is now set to move up to the next level by taking the helm of a club competing in the Spanish second division.
The Eldense club, recently returned to the second division, is nevertheless going through a delicate sporting period. After four matchdays, the team has only two points and has just parted ways with its coach Claudio Barragán. The arrival of a high-profile owner like Messi could therefore quickly be accompanied by new sporting ambitions.
An operation still to be finalized
Despite the principle agreement, Messi is not yet officially the owner of Eldense. The transaction must still pass through several legal and contractual steps, including a due diligence process, before receiving authorization from the Spanish High Council for Sports (CSD).
