Lionel Messi, the captain of the Argentina national team and forward for Inter Miami, has acquired the Spanish football club Cornella, which competes in the country's third division.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the news was first reported by renowned sports journalist Fabrizio Romano. The acquisition marks a significant move into sports ownership for the legendary footballer, following a trend of high-profile athletes investing in professional teams.
The purchase follows recent reports regarding Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who was linked to acquiring a 25 percent stake in Almeria, a club competing in Spain's second division. These investments highlight the growing influence of global football icons in the administrative and commercial sectors of the sport within Europe.
Messi, 38, is a record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history. During his illustrious career in Europe, he played for France's Paris Saint-Germain and Spain's Barcelona. With Barcelona, he won the UEFA Champions League four times, the UEFA Super Cup three times, and the FIFA Club World Cup three times. On the international stage, the forward led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, secured a silver medal in 2014, became an Olympic champion in 2008, and is a two-time Copa America winner (2021, 2024).
