Lionel Messi has ventured into football ownership after buying a team in the Spanish fifth tier.
The Inter Miami star, 38, has purchased 100 per cent of UE Cornella, a club located on the outskirts of Barcelona.
Messi will have full control of the club, based just five miles from Camp Nou, as he looks to life after football.
It is not clear how much the Argentinian forward paid for UE Cornella but it marks his first step into club ownership.
UE Cornella said in a statement that 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,’ they added.
UE Cornella, founded in 1951, play in the Tercera Federacion Group 5. They are third in the table, behind Manresa and Badalona, and have hopes of promotion to the fourth tier.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and ex-Barcelona star Jordi Alba are among the players to have come through the ranks at UE Cornella.
Barcelona legend Messi has strengthened his ties to Catalonia with his purchase of the team but it remains unlikely he will ever return to the club as he is contracted to Inter Miami, owned by David Beckham, until 2028.
He could have faced Cornella in the Copa del Rey in his final season at Camp Nou but missed the tie because of a two-match suspension following the first red card of his Barcelona career in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao.
Messi could one day come up against his rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who bought a 25 per cent stake in Spanish second-tier side UD Almeria in February.
It comes after news that Messi is reportedly facing a lawsuit from a Florida promoter who is suing the star for fraud and breach of contract after he skipped a game for Argentina last year.
According to TMZ, VID – a Miami-based company that specialises in putting on sports and music events – has filed a lawsuit against both Messi and the Argentina Football Association.
VID reportedly claims they lost out on millions of dollars after Messi missed Argentina’s friendly match against Venezuela.
As reported by TMZ, VID allege that they agreed a $7million deal with the AFA for exclusive rights to two exhibition matches – Argentina vs. Venezuela and Argentina vs. Puerto Rico, which both took place in October.
As part of the deal, VID claims, Messi was required to play at least 30 minutes in each of the two games – unless he was injured.
But Messi instead watched Argentina’s win over Venezuela from the stands of Hard Rock Stadium, with VID reportedly claiming they paid for the suite where Messi spent the evening with his family.
The very next day, the 38-year-old scored twice as Inter Miami beat Atlanta United. He did feature when Argentina beat Puerto Rico, setting up two goals in a 6-0 win.
But, according to TMZ, VID claims they lost more than $1m after the game was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale.
Officials in Chicago claimed low ticket sales were to blame for the decision, while officials with the Argentine federation said the immigration crackdown in Chicago was responsible.
VID claims the AFA promised to rectify the situation with games against China in 2026, only for those matches never to materialize.
According to TMZ, VID wants to be reimbursed for all the money they lost and more.
