Lionel Messi becomes owner of Spanish club Eldense

Full control over the Alicante team

Lionel Messi has officially become the owner of the Spanish football club Eldense. On 1 October, representatives of the team announced that all shares had passed under the control of the Argentine. Previously, the majority of the shares belonged to a Colombian investment group. Now, Messi has full authority over the club, which is based in the city of Elda (Alicante province).

It is worth noting that legally, the deal is not yet complete. For final formalisation, it is necessary to obtain the mandatory approval of the Spanish Supreme Sports Council (CSD), as required by the country's current legislation.

Club's position in the league table

Eldense was founded in 1921 and currently competes in Segunda, the second-tier division of Spanish football. After seven matches played, the team holds 19th place. The players have one win and four defeats to their name.

A new chapter in the club's history

In an official statement, Eldense emphasised that Messi's arrival opens a new stage in the club's over-century-long history. The management announced a long-term project, which envisages the comprehensive development of the team in three key areas: sporting, institutional, and social.

Second Spanish team in Messi's collection

For the Argentine, this is already his second Spanish club. In April 2026, he fully acquired Cornellà, which competes in the fifth division of Spain. However, the purchase of Eldense marked the first instance of Messi investing in a higher-level professional Spanish football team.