Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the majority shareholder of Spanish second-division club Eldense, the team announced. This would mark the second Spanish club the football superstar has invested in, having previously bought Catalan side Cornella in April.
The transaction is contingent on the completion of legal and contractual procedures, including a due diligence process, and requires authorization from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD). Eldense, based in Alicante, is currently in 20th place in La Liga 2 with two points from four games this season and recently parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragan.
When Messi's ownership of Cornella was announced in April, the club stated that it reinforced his close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia. Messi, who left Argentina for Spain at age 13, began his professional career with Barcelona, where he scored a record 672 goals in 778 games before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and then Inter Miami in 2023. He also recently retired from international football after Argentina's loss in the 2026 World Cup final.
In February, Messi's former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo bought a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria. BBC Sport has approached Messi for comment on the Eldense agreement.