Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to buy Eldense, a club in Spain's second division. Eldense said in a statement that the agreement would make Messi the club's majority shareholder.
What does the agreement cover? The club said the agreement concerns "the acquisition of the shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones". The transaction is currently "subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD)," Eldense said.
Where does Eldense stand? The Alicante-based side have two points from four games this season and sit 20th in La Liga 2, the BBC reported. The club parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier that week.
Which other Spanish club has Messi invested in? Eldense would become the second Spanish club Messi has invested in, after Catalan side Cornella, which he bought in April, the BBC reported. Cornella, who are in the fifth tier of Spanish football, said in April that his ownership "reinforces his close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia". His former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, bought a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria in February.
What is Messi's career history? The 39-year-old left Argentina for Spain when he was 13 and made his first-team debut for Barcelona aged 17 in October 2004, the BBC reported. He went on to score a club-record 672 goals in 778 games before leaving for French club Paris St-Germain in 2021 and joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in 2023. He won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, and he recently retired from international football after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Figures referenced: Lionel Messi. — JudgeMarket.
