Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, is reportedly in the final stages of a deal to acquire football club Eldense, which plays in the second division of Spain (Segunda), according to Spanish media. The purchase would be the latest step in the Argentine's expansion of his sports assets, as he already owns another Spanish team and, under the terms of his contract, is set to receive a stake in American side Inter Miami.

The Deal and Its Confirmation Status

As reported by Spanish outlets, Messi has agreed on the key terms of buying 100% of Eldense's shares from the current owner, the Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group SAS, which had controlled the club since October 2025. An official announcement of the deal's completion is expected within the coming days, although its formal confirmation requires a decision by Spain's Supreme Sports Council (CSD). Thus, at the time of publication, an agreement has been reached, but the deal has not been fully finalized legally.

Expanding the Football Empire

For Messi, this is not his first experience of owning Spanish clubs. In April 2026, the Argentine already acquired Cornellà, a team from the country's fifth-tier division. In addition, upon the end of his playing career at Inter Miami, he is, according to his current contract, to receive an ownership stake in that MLS franchise. The purchase of Eldense fits logically into a strategy of gradually building up a portfolio of clubs across different leagues.

The Situation at Eldense

The club from the town of Elda (Alicante province) has come a long way from the lower leagues and has competed in the Spanish second division three times over the last four seasons. However, the start of the new championship has been extremely poor for the team: after four opening rounds, Eldense has picked up just two points and sits third from the bottom of the table. Due to the disappointing results, the management has already dismissed head coach Claudio Barragán, so the new owner will be stepping into a club in the midst of a rebuild.

Context: The 2026 Ballon d'Or Race

Alongside his business activities, Messi remains at the center of sporting attention: it was previously announced that he has been included among the candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Thus, the purchase of Eldense is taking place against the backdrop of the Argentine still being listed among the favorites for the year's top individual award.