Lionel Messi is on the verge of expanding his growing business empire in Spanish football, with second-division club CD Eldense confirming a preliminary agreement for the Argentine icon to become the majority shareholder.
The move would see Messi acquire the shares currently held by Grupo TH Soluciones, a Colombian investment group that took control of Eldense last October. According to reports, Messi is expected to purchase the entirety of the stake, though the transaction still requires several formalities to be completed.
Eldense confirmed the development in an official statement, saying a preliminary agreement had been reached that "would make him the club's majority shareholder." The club added that the deal remains subject to further legal and contractual steps, including a due diligence process, and crucially requires sign-off from Spain's High Council for Sports (CSD), the body responsible for authorizing changes in club ownership.
Speaking to Reuters, Eldense said: "At this time, the operation is pending completion of the final legal and contractual procedures, including the corresponding due diligence process, as well as the mandatory authorisation from the High Council for Sports (CSD)." The club was unable to provide a specific timeline for when the sale might be finalized, though Spanish media reports suggested the process could wrap up within days.
This would mark the second Spanish club Messi has invested in this year alone. In April, he completed the purchase of UE Cornella, a fifth-tier Catalan side, a move the club described at the time as reinforcing Messi's enduring connection to Barcelona and his dedication to nurturing football talent in the region.
Eldense, based in the Alicante area of southeastern Spain, currently sit 20th in the Segunda Division table with just two points from four matches this season. The club's struggles on the pitch recently led to the dismissal of head coach Claudio Barragan. Despite the rocky start to the campaign, Eldense's rise to Spain's second tier represents a notable achievement after years spent competing in the regional leagues.
Messi's business dealings extend beyond Spain as well. The 39-year-old, who currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, is also reportedly set to receive an ownership stake in the American club once his playing contract there expires.
The Eldense deal comes shortly after Messi announced his retirement from international football following Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup. His playing career has been decorated with success, most notably during his time at Barcelona, where he rose through the youth ranks after moving to Spain from Argentina at just 13 years old. He made his first-team debut for the Catalan giants in October 2004 at age 17 and went on to become the club's all-time leading scorer, netting 672 goals in 778 appearances before departing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. He then moved to Inter Miami in 2023.
Interestingly, Messi's long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo has also ventured into Spanish club ownership, having acquired a 25 percent stake in Almeria back in February, showing that both of the sport's most iconic figures are increasingly turning their attention to investment opportunities in Spanish football even as their playing careers wind down.
BBC Sport reported that it has reached out to Messi for comment on the Eldense agreement, while TH Soluciones Group has also been contacted regarding the sale.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport and The Independent, with additional reporting from Reuters.