Lionel Messi follows rival Cristiano Ronaldo by purchasing a Spanish football club

News

Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been perennial rivals on the pitch throughout their illustrious careers, but could they become boardroom rivals in the future?

It could happen, as both now own Spanish football clubs.

In February, Ronaldo purchased a stake in Segunda Division side Almeria and just a couple of months later, Messi followed in CR7's footsteps by purchasing outright fifth-tier outfit UE Cornella, who are based in Catalunya.

“UE Cornella announces that Argentinian footballer and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Leo Messi has formalized the acquisition of the club, becoming the new owner of the Baix Llobregat institution," an official club statement read.

"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.

"Messi’s commitment to young talent is also reflected in the club’s strong youth structure, with teams competing in the top youth categories at both national and regional levels. This commitment has also been demonstrated by the Argentina captain through other youth development initiatives, such as the Messi Cup — a tournament that held its first edition last December in Miami, featuring eight of the world’s top U16 teams (Newell’s Old Boys, Inter Milan, River Plate, Inter Miami, Atlético de Madrid, Chelsea FC, Manchester City, and FC Barcelona).

"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 project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition, sustainability, and a strong connection to its local roots."

Messi's net worth is around €715 million and his wealth has been generated through his enormous salaries with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami and well as lucrative sponsorships with the likes of Adidas and Pepsi.

Though he currently lives and continues to play in the United States, he has previously expressed a desire to one day return to Barcelona and Catalunya to live, so this new investment makes sense.

Ronaldo invests in Almeria

Like Messi, much of Ronaldo's legacy was formed in Spain, where he is Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer, and now he has returned to the country by purchasing a stake in the second-flight side.

An official announcement from the club confirmed that Ronaldo bought 25% of Alermia’s shares. These will be held under CR7 Sports Investments, which is a new subsidiary of CR7 SA, which holds the player’s investments in the sport sector.

Ronaldo said: “It has been a longtime ambition of mine to contribute to football, beyond the pitch. UD Almeria is a Spanish club with strong foundations and clear potential for growth. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to support the club's next phase of growth.”

Mohamed Al Khereiji, meanwhile, has hailed Ronaldo’s investment and is optimistic that the former Real Madrid’s insight will be vital to the development of Almeria.

The president said: “He is regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, he knows the Spanish leagues very well and he understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the academy.”