Lionel Messi Acquires Spanish Fifth-Tier Club UE Cornellà to Develop Local Talent

Lionel Messi, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and current Inter Miami forward, became the new owner of UE Cornellà on Thursday, acquiring the Catalan fifth-tier club in a move the team described as the start of a new chapter in its history. The 38-year-old Argentine formalized the purchase of the club, which competes in the Tercera RFEF Group 5, on April 16. UE Cornellà's headquarters sit barely 15 meters from the RCDE Stadium, home of RCD Espanyol, in Cornellà de Llobregat — a municipality roughly 15 kilometers from Castelldefels, the coastal town where Messi lived during his years at FC Barcelona. The club did not disclose the financial terms of the acquisition. „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.” — UE Cornellà via Reuters

Academy that shaped Jordi Alba and David Raya now under Messi Founded in 1951, UE Cornellà has built a reputation as one of Catalonia's leading youth development clubs, ranking behind only FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol in the regional grassroots football hierarchy, according to El Periódico. The club's academy has produced players who went on to reach the national and international elite, including Spain international Jordi Alba, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, FC Barcelona defender Gerard Martín, RCD Espanyol captain Javi Puado, Real Betis midfielder Aitor Ruibal, and former Lazio and Inter forward Keita Baldé. In the past three years alone, more than 50 (players) — academy graduates transferred to top clubs in recent three years players have moved from the club's youth ranks to teams including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Villarreal, and Lazio. The club currently fields more than 60 teams across all age categories. UE Cornellà's statement described the project as guided by "a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots." Messi himself has previously promoted youth football through initiatives such as the Messi Cup, an international tournament for youth categories held in Miami, according to Europa Press.

UE Cornellà was founded in 1951 through the merger of four local clubs and has historically competed in the lower tiers of Spanish football, with its highest point being Segunda B — the former third tier — which it reached for the first time in the 2014-15 season. That same season, the club faced Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, losing 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. In 2021, UE Cornellà defeated Atlético de Madrid in the second round of the Copa del Rey, one of the most notable results in the club's history. Lionel Messi played 778 games and scored 672 goals for FC Barcelona before leaving for Paris Saint-Germain and subsequently Inter Miami.

Cornellà sits third in Group 5, eyeing promotion play-offs On the pitch, UE Cornellà currently occupies third place in Group 5 of the Tercera RFEF with 55 points, five behind league leaders Manresa, according to El Periódico. Only the first-placed team earns direct promotion, while the next four clubs enter a play-off round. The club secured its most recent result with a 96th-minute goal by Verdú in a 0-1 away win at Tona, and is set to host FE Grama on Sunday at 12:30. Manresa, the current leader, still has a fixture to play at Cornellà's ground, keeping the promotion race open. The acquisition arrives at a moment when the club's sporting ambitions and institutional profile are both in focus, with Messi's involvement expected to raise the club's international visibility significantly.

Player-owners trend grows as Ronaldo bought Almería months earlier Messi's acquisition places him within a growing cohort of active and former footballers who have invested in club ownership. Cristiano Ronaldo acquired 25 percent of UD Almería, a second-division Spanish club, in February 2026 through his company CR7 Sports Investments, according to SAPO. Former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba and Thiago Alcántara have invested in CE L'Hospitalet, another Catalan club also competing in Tercera RFEF Group 5. Real Madrid forward Vinícius Jr. became a majority shareholder of Portuguese club Alverca in 2025, while former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra holds ownership in Estrela da Amadora and former Barcelona player Daniel Alves took over São João de Ver at the start of 2026. Messi's move is also widely interpreted as a signal of his intention to return to live in Catalonia after his playing career ends — a desire he has previously expressed publicly, according to SAPO. Inter Miami, where Messi has been playing since 2023 and where he led the club to their first MLS Cup last year, counts David Beckham among its owners.

Jordi Alba: CE L'Hospitalet (investor), David Raya: Arsenal, Gerard Martín: FC Barcelona, Javi Puado: RCD Espanyol, Aitor Ruibal: Real Betis, Keita Baldé: retired