Lionel Messi Expands Club Portfolio with Purchase of Spanish

Lionel Messi has completed his purchase of Spanish second division club CD Eldense, expanding his growing portfolio of football investments. The 39-year-old Inter Miami star, who also bought Catalan side Cornella in April, is now the majority shareholder of the Alicante-based club, subject to regulatory approval. This move into club ownership arrives during a busy period for the Argentine legend, who is handling the final stages of the MLS season and preparing for a historic farewell with his national team.

Messi's growing influence in club ownership

CD Eldense confirmed the acquisition, calling it the start of a "new and exciting chapter" for the century-old club. Messi, who left Argentina for Spain as a teenager, now holds a controlling stake in a team currently 19th in the 22-team Segunda División. The club stated the project aims to promote long-term sporting and institutional development. This follows a trend of iconic players moving into ownership, with Messi's former rival Cristiano Ronaldo buying a stake in Almeria earlier this year.

A costly defeat for Inter Miami in the MLS playoff race

Messi's on-field focus remains with Inter Miami, but his team suffered a painful 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew on Sunday night. Messi scored a sublime 33rd-minute free kick, his 21st goal of the MLS season, to temporarily level the match. But a stoppage-time winner from Jamal Thiare sealed a defeat that leaves Miami with just one win in its last ten games. The result complicates their playoff positioning as the regular season winds down.

Argentina enters a new era without its iconic number 10

With Messi's international retirement confirmed in August, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is already planning for the future. The team will host Bolivia in a friendly on Wednesday without assigning Messi's iconic number 10 jersey. Scaloni said the shirt will remain vacant until after Messi's farewell match against Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires. The coach is using these matches to experiment, fielding a new tactical setup with Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez together up front.

Reflecting on a historic 2026 World Cup campaign

Although the tournament concluded in July, the scale of Messi's performance for Argentina's victorious 2026 World Cup run continues to resonate. Beyond his eight goals and four assists, advanced metrics reveal the depth of his influence at 39 years old. He completed 25 dribbles, created 25 chances, and was directly involved in 14 possessions that ended in a goal. His efforts were central to Argentina securing a second consecutive world title.

Key statistics from Lionel Messi's 2026 World Cup:

• Messi is now the majority owner of CD Eldense, his second club purchase in Spain this year.
• Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Columbus Crew, with Messi scoring his 21st MLS goal of the season.
• Argentina will not assign the number 10 jersey until after Messi's farewell match on October 6.
• His 2026 World Cup data shows a historically complete tournament performance.

Messi's immediate schedule includes Inter Miami hosting D.C. United on October 10 before he travels to Buenos Aires for his final Argentina appearance. His dual role as elite player and emerging club owner defines this unique phase of his legendary career.