Messi agrees to buy second Spanish club

Spanish second-division side Eldense has announced that Argentina great Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to become the club's majority shareholder. The 39-year-old former Barcelona forward currently plays for Inter Miami and recently retired from international football after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Eldense will become the second Spanish club Messi has invested in, having bought Catalan side Cornella in April, which stated that Messi's ownership reinforces his close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia. The club, based in Alicante, currently has two points from four games this season and sits 20th in La Liga 2. Messi left Argentina for Spain when he was 13 and made his first-team debut for Barcelona at 17 in October 2004. He went on to score a club record 672 goals in 778 games before leaving for French club Paris St-Germain in 2021 and joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami in the United States in 2023. The transaction is currently subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD). BBC Sport has approached Messi for comment. Messi's former Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, bought a 25% stake in Spanish side Almeria in February. Eldense parting ways with head coach Claudio Barragan earlier this week. The decision to invest in Eldense marks a new chapter in Messi's career, as he continues to expand his business ventures and philanthropic efforts.