
The Argentine footballer plans to become the majority shareholder of the club from Alicante, which plays in the Spanish second league.
AI-generated summary
Lionel Messi previously acquired the Catalan club Cornella in April this year. Eldense are currently 20th in La Liga 2.
Spanish second league club Eldense have announced that legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has reached a "preliminary agreement" to become the club's majority shareholder.
Eldense will be the second Spanish club in which Messi has invested, having acquired Catalan club Cornella in April.
The 39-year-old former Barcelona striker currently plays for Inter Miami and recently retired from the national team after Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
“A preliminary agreement has been reached with Lionel Messi to acquire the shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones, which will make him the majority shareholder of the club,” Eldense said in a statement. “The transaction is currently subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as obtaining the necessary approval from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD).”
The Alicante club have two points from four matches this season and, sitting 20th in La Liga 2, parted company with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week.
Cornella competes in Spanish football's fifth tier and said in April that the acquisition of Messi "strengthens its close ties with Barcelona and its commitment to developing the sport and local talent in Catalonia."
Messi, 39, considered by many to be one of the sport's greatest ever footballers, left Argentina for Spain at 13 and made his senior Barcelona debut aged 17 in October 2004.
He subsequently scored a club-record 672 goals in 778 appearances before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 and Inter Miami of the US MLS in 2023.
Messi's eternal rival in the race for global greatness, Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nasr, acquired a 25 percent stake in Spanish club Almeria in February.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Completion of legal procedures and obtaining permission from CSD
Likely · Within months

The International Skating Union (ISU) refused to give Kamila Valieva, Mark Kondratyuk, Alexandra Stepanova and Ivan Bukin neutral status. FFKKR stated its intention to use all available opportunities to resolve the situation.

Honorary President of the ROC Vitaly Smirnov criticized the decision of the International Skating Union (ISU) to deny neutral status to Russian skaters, calling it arbitrariness and impunity.

Spanish coach Imanol Alguacil took over the leadership of the Greek football club Olympiacos. Previously, the specialist worked for Real Sociedad and Saudi Al-Shabab.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev announced that Russian figure skaters denied neutral status by the International Skating Union will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the Russian Figure Skating Federation providing legal support.

The Continental Hockey League will distribute 2.36 billion rubles between clubs based on the results of the 2025/26 season. The leader in payments was Lokomotiv, which received 215.9 million rubles.

The International Skating Union has rejected the appeals of Russian figure skaters Kamila Valieva and Mark Kondratyuk against the revocation of their neutral status.