On 17/4, Cornella announced that Lionel Messi had finalized the acquisition of the club, officially becoming the new owner of the Baix Llobregat-based team.

In a statement, Cornella indicated Messi’s arrival “marks a new chapter in the club’s history”, aiming to promote both sporting achievement and organizational development. The project will focus on a long-term vision, combining ambition, sustainability, and strong ties to the local community.

This acquisition is viewed as a move to strengthen Messi’s long-standing connection with Barcelona and Catalonia, regions where he spent a significant part of his career with Barca. Cornella stated that Messi’s involvement underscores a commitment to fostering sports development and nurturing local youth talent.

Prior to Cornella, Messi had already ventured into club ownership, co-owning Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside his long-time teammate Luis Suarez.

Lionel Messi speaking at the US Business Forum at Kaseya Center on 3/11/2025. Photo: *Reuters*.

Founded in 1951, Cornella is a storied Catalan football club, particularly renowned for its robust youth academy. This system has nurtured numerous talents who have gone on to achieve professional success, including goalkeeper David Raya, defender Jordi Alba – a former teammate of Messi at Barca and Inter Miami – as well as Gerard Martin, Javi Puado, Keita Balde, Aitor Ruibal, and Ilie Sanchez.

These players, among others, serve as a testament to the effectiveness of Cornella’s youth development model, which the club has diligently pursued for decades. The club continues to maintain youth teams that compete at the highest levels in Spain.

A commitment to youth football is also a key focus of Messi’s endeavors beyond the pitch. In 12/2025, he launched the inaugural Messi Cup in Miami, an event that drew prominent clubs such as: Inter Milan, River Plate, Atletico, Chelsea, Man City, and Barca.

Messi is not alone in this trend; numerous other football stars have also ventured into club ownership. In 2023, N’Golo Kante acquired and became president of Royal Excelsior Virton, a Belgian third-division club. The following year, 2024, Kylian Mbappe, through his Coalition Capital Fund, purchased an 80% stake in Caen, a French Ligue 2 club. In 2025, Luka Modric bought shares in Swansea City, a club competing in the English first division, while Vinicius and his partners secured a majority stake in Alverca, a Portuguese second-division club.

By Hong Duy (via ESPN)