17th April 2026
April 17 – Lionel Messi has taken his first formal step into club ownership, acquiring 100% of Catalan side UE Cornellà who play in Spain’s fifth-tier.
The club confirmed the deal on Thursday afternoon, with Messi assuming full control as he takes his first step into shaping a post-playing role in the game.
Financial details have not been disclosed, but the move places him among a growing group of active players investing directly in clubs – including former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo who acquired a 25% stake in second-division club UD Almeria in February.
Cornellà, located around five miles from Camp Nou, has built a reputation as a development hub, producing players including David Raya and Jordi Alba – the latter of which spent much of his playing career alongside Messi at both Barcelona and later at Inter Miami.
The club said the takeover as both a sporting and institutional reset.
“Leo Messi’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history, aimed at driving both sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations, and continuing to invest in talent,” it said.
“The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots.”
The move bolsters Messi’s longstanding ties to the Barcelona area, where he spent the bulk of his career before joining PSG and then Inter Miami, where he is contracted until 2028.
The acquisition coincided with a separate legal issue in the United States, where Messi and the Argentine Football Association are being sued by a Miami-based promoter over an alleged breach of contract linked to a series of friendlies at the back end of 2025. The claim centres on Messi’s absence from one of the matches, with the promoter alleging financial losses in the millions, when he was contracted to feature for at least 30 minutes unless injured.
While the legal case will play out separately, the Cornellà deal signals a shift in focus for the 38-year-old, who is beginning to establish a foothold in football’s ownership landscape – this time back in familiar territory.
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