Messi buys Eldense to set up first-ever ownership clash with Ronaldo in LaLiga2

Lionel Messi is set to add Spanish second-division side Eldense to his growing football ownership portfolio, a move that will pit him directly against Cristiano Ronaldo in LaLiga2. Messi, 39, has agreed to acquire a 100% stake in the club, which already faced Ronaldo’s Almeria this season — losing 3-0 on the road in their opening fixture.

Ronaldo, 41, purchased a 25% stake in Almeria earlier this year, describing it as a “long-held ambition” to contribute to football beyond the pitch. “UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth,” the Portuguese forward said at the time of the announcement. Almeria are currently 12th in the LaLiga2 standings.

Elsewhere in his portfolio, Messi also owns fifth-division Spanish club UE Cornella, acquired shortly before the 2026 World Cup. There is no expected conflict of interest between his two Spanish clubs, as Eldense and Cornella are separated by three divisions.

If Messi’s purchase of Eldense is completed, the two clubs are scheduled to meet in match-week 37 of the LaLiga2 season on 2 May 2027, with the game to be played at Eldense’s ground. It would mark the first official competitive fixture between clubs owned by the two most decorated players of their generation.

The timing adds extra intrigue given Eldense’s difficult start to the campaign. The club sits in the relegation zone after collecting just two points from their opening four matches, meaning survival in the second division is far from guaranteed before that headline fixture arrives.

Messi’s ownership interests extend beyond Europe. He co-founded Deportivo LSM in Uruguay alongside former Barcelona team-mate and current Inter Milan striker Luis Suarez. The club competes in Uruguay’s fourth tier and sits third in the Serie B 2026 table with 18 points from nine matches.

Should Ronaldo retire before the 2026-27 season concludes, his stake in Almeria means the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry could continue in the boardroom long after both men have left the pitch.