Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the majority shareholder of Spanish second-tier club Eldense, just days after ending his international career with Argentina.
According to the BBC, Eldense confirmed that Messi has agreed to acquire shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones, a move that would make the 39-year-old football icon the club’s majority owner.
The proposed transaction is still subject to several legal and contractual procedures, including due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD).
If completed, the takeover would make Eldense the second Spanish club in which Messi has invested. The Argentine previously acquired a stake in fifth-tier Catalan club Cornella in April.
Messi recently brought his Argentina international career to an end after the country suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Eldense currently sit 20th in La Liga 2, having collected just two points from their opening four matches. The club also parted ways with coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week.
Based in Alicante, Eldense have climbed through Spain’s lower divisions and have competed in the second tier in three of the past four seasons.
Messi moved from Argentina to Spain at the age of 13 and made his Barcelona first-team debut at 17 in 2004. He went on to score a club-record 672 goals in 778 appearances for the Catalan giants before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and later joining Inter Miami in 2023.
His move into club ownership places him among a growing number of prominent football figures investing in clubs.
Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, through his Kosmos group, owns second-tier Andorra, while Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe are involved in investment groups with majority stakes in clubs in Portugal and France.
Messi’s former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo also owns a 25 per cent stake in Spanish club Almeria.
If the deal receives the required approvals, Messi will add club ownership in Spain to an already remarkable football career that includes World Cup glory, multiple Ballon d’Or awards and numerous domestic and international titles.
