Lionel Messi continues to expand his presence in the football business. The Spanish club Eldense has officially announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the Argentine forward for the sale of a controlling stake to him. According to the club's statement, the 39-year-old player will acquire the share owned by Grupo TH Soluciones after all legal procedures are completed. The financial terms of the deal and the timeline for its closure have not yet been disclosed. For Messi, this is already his second investment in Spanish football. Earlier this year, he became the owner of the club Cornellà, which competes in the fifth tier of the country. Eldense represents the city of Elda in the province of Alicante and plays in the second tier of Spanish football — the Segunda. The team is currently going through a difficult period. The new season has started without victories for the club: after four rounds, it has two draws and two losses. In light of the poor results, the management has already dismissed head coach Claudio Barragán. The purchase of the club shows that Messi is gradually expanding his activities beyond the football field. More and more well-known players, after finishing or nearing the end of their careers, are becoming owners or co-owners of football clubs, viewing such projects as long-term investments. At the same time, the Argentine remains one of the strongest footballers in the world. This week, he was named among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or for the season. Messi is the absolute record holder for the number of Ballon d'Or awards won — he has claimed the prestigious individual award for the best footballer in the world eight times.
