Which clubs does Lionel Messi own? Soccer legend buys Eldense as second team in growing ownership portfolio

As one of the greatest soccer players the world has ever seen, Lionel Messi has already made a generational impact on the sport he has given his entire life to.

Now that the 38-year-old has retired from international duty, and his club career is nearing an end, the Argentine legend is already looking to what his life will be once he hangs up his boots.

Having reaped the financial benefits of being the world's greatest-ever player, Messi has made significant inroads towards being a club owner.

Now the sole owner of two different Spanish clubs, Messi has put himself in position to be an investor in the sport that gave him so much fame and fortune.

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Which clubs does Lionel Messi own?

Lionel Messi currently has ownership stake in two Spanish clubs, plus rumors of a pathway towards ownership in a third.

In April of 2026, Messi purchased fifth-tier club UE Cornella, a club based in Catalonia. According to Spanish publication La Razon, as shared by Marca, Messi reportedly paid around €2 million ($2.3m) for a 100 percent stake in the club's ownership.

In early September of that year, Messi then purchased ownership of second-tier Spanish side CD Eldense. He reportedly also purchased a 100 percent stake in the club, with the cost being around $70-80 million according to a report by the Buenos Aires Times.

Finally, there have been reports since Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami that his contract with the MLS club allows him to secure an ownership stake in the club once he retires from football. He does not hold this yet, but has the option for equity in the club once he is no longer contracted as a player.

MORE: Lionel Messi's contract and salary details with Inter Miami

Lionel Messi buys Spanish club Eldense

The latest stake in a football club Messi has purchased is a 100% ownership share in second-tier club CD Eldense, which he secured in September of 2026.

The club confirmed on September 8 that he was finalizing the purchase contract, buying the club from its previous owners, Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S.

Eldense have never played in the Spanish top flight. They have spent nearly their entire existence in the third and fourth tiers, before promotion to the second tier in 2023.

Lionel Messi ownership of UE Cornella

Messi's first foray into club ownership came in April of 2026, as he secured a 100% stake in fifth-tier club UE Cornella.

Before Messi's ownership acquisition, the club had been playing in the third tier of Spanish football, their highest-ever reach up the nation's pyramid, before suffering back-to-back relegation in 2024 and 2025 to the fifth tier.

Does Lionel Messi own Inter Miami?

As he currently plays for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi is not amongst the club's ownership group.

However, there are many reports that Messi has a clause in his Inter Miami contract that gives him the option to acquire ownership stake in the club once he retires from playing.

When Messi joined Inter Miami in June of 2023, Ian Hest of The Heron Outlet reported that Messi had "ownership equity in the club once he retires" included in his contract. Spanish publication Marca reported in 2022 that Messi will acquire 35 percent of Inter Miami, although their report stated that he would receive that stake upon joining the club, which was vehemently denied by the club at the time, as it would present a significant conflict of interest.

It is likely that Messi would have to acquire that ownership stake at market price, and would not receive it for free or a discount, as ESPN reported as such shortly before Messi joined Inter Miami. Former MLS commissioner Don Garber said in 2017 about how their agreement with David Beckham for club ownership at a significant discount was a bad deal for the league and that they would never do a similar deal again, but has since walked that back when discussing the possibilities with Messi.