In a move that cements his enduring connection to the Catalonia region where he launched his legendary football career, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has completed the acquisition of UE Cornella, a fifth-tier Spanish club based in Barcelona’s suburban area. The club officially confirmed the deal in a public statement released Thursday, naming the Inter Miami forward its new majority owner.
Messi, 38, currently plies his trade for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami in the United States, and is gearing up to lead Argentina’s defense of its World Cup title at the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This acquisition marks a new milestone in Messi’s long-standing bond with Catalonia, where he rose to global stardom after coming through FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy. Over 17 seasons with Barca’s first team, he cemented his legacy as the club’s all-time top goalscorer, netting 672 competitive goals before departing in 2021. The football icon has previously publicly stated his intention to return to Catalonia to reside permanently once he retires from professional play.
Founded in the Barcelona suburbs, UE Cornella has a proven track record of developing elite football talent, with notable alumni including Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper David Raya and Jordi Alba, who won multiple trophies alongside Messi during their time together at FC Barcelona. In recent seasons, however, the club has faced on-field struggles, suffering consecutive relegations over the past two years that pushed it down to the fifth tier of Spanish football.
In its statement confirming the takeover, the club framed Messi’s arrival as the start of a transformative new era. “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 statement read. The club added that the new project under Messi’s leadership is built on a long-term strategic vision that balances competitive ambition, financial sustainability, and an unwavering commitment to the club’s local community roots. This aligns with the core mission of nurturing emerging homegrown talent, a mission that has defined Cornella’s identity for decades.
The acquisition comes just two months after another of football’s all-time greats, Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, purchased a 25% stake in UD Almeria, a Spanish second-tier club based in the country’s southern Andalusia region, marking a recent trend of legendary active players investing in lower-tier Spanish sides ahead of their retirement from playing. For Messi, the move is more than a business investment: it is a public reaffirmation of his commitment to Catalonia and the development of grassroots football that gave him his start in the sport.