Lionel Messi becomes new owner of Spanish club UE Cornellà | OneFootball

Lionel Messi has officially stepped into club ownership after acquiring Spanish side UE Cornellà the Catalan outfit confirmed on Thursday.

The Argentina captain has taken control of the Barcelona-area club, marking a significant move into football leadership away from the pitch.

Reports suggest the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now holds full ownership, although the exact details of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed.

UE Cornellà currently compete in Group 5 of the Tercera Federación, the fifth level of Spanish football. The club is based in Cornellà de Llobregat, a municipality located just outside central Barcelona.

Messi spent 17 seasons in Barcelona’s first team after rising through the club’s academy system, eventually becoming their all-time top scorer with 672 goals. He has previously indicated that he plans to return to live in Catalonia once his playing career comes to an end, making this latest move particularly notable.

Interestingly, Messi is not the only global star investing in Spanish football recently. Long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly secured a minority stake in second-division side Almería earlier this year.