Lionel Messi buys 100 per cent stake in Spanish club

Lionel Messi has been announced as the new owner of Spanish club UE Cornella.

The Argentinian football icon, widely regarded as the greatest player ever, has completed his acquisition of a side located in Barcelona, the club where he made his name.

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talkSPORT understands the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner owns a 100 per cent stake in Cornella.

In a statement, the club said: “This move reinforces Messi’s close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia — a connection rooted in his years at FC Barcelona and sustained ever since.”

“Messi’s commitment to young talent is also reflected in the club’s strong youth structure, with teams competing in the top youth categories at both national and regional levels,” they added.

“This commitment has also been demonstrated by the Argentina captain through other youth development initiatives, such as the Messi Cup — a tournament that held its first edition last December in Miami, featuring eight of the world’s top U16 teams (Newell’s Old Boys, Inter Milan, River Plate, Inter Miami, Atletico de Madrid, Chelsea FC, Manchester City, and FC Barcelona).

“Leo Messi’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history, aimed at driving both sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations, and continuing to invest in talent.

“The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots.”

Cornella, whose full name is Unio Esportiva Cornella, play in Group 5 of Tercera Federacion, the fifth tier of Spanish football.

Based in the municipality of Cornella de Llobregat, they are close to the city centre of Barcelona.

Messi returns to Barcelona… kind of

Five years since leaving the Camp Nou as a player, 38-year-old Messi has made his way back to Barcelona.

He moved there with his family in 2001 and joined the academy of the city’s main club Barca, which helped him grow into a superstar.

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Across a 17-year spell, Messi scored 672 goals and assisted another 291 in 781 competitive appearances.

The forward lifted ten LaLiga titles, seven Copa del Reys and eight Spanish Super Cups during his domestic outings.

Messi was also a four-time Champions League winner at Barcelona, with three Super Cups and three Club World Cups won too.

During a two-year stint at Paris Saint-Germain, he guided his country to World Cup success in Qatar.

He could make his 200th international appearance at this summer’s World Cup as Argentina eye back-to-back titles.

Messi currently plays for MLS side Inter Miami, who have named a stand at their new $1billion stadium after him.