The Argentine superstar has agreed a deal that could give him control of another Spanish club, adding a new chapter to an increasingly ambitious portfolio that stretches across several countries and even into esports. Lionel Messi is continuing to build a soccer empire away from the pitch, and his latest move has put him on a fascinating collision course with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine superstar has agreed a deal that could give him control of another Spanish club, adding a new chapter to an increasingly ambitious portfolio that stretches across several countries and even into esports. Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire 100% of CD Eldense, a Spanish second-division club based in Elda, near Alicante. The club confirmed the agreement on September 9, 2026, with the transaction still requiring legal procedures, due diligence, and approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD). According to Reuters, BBC Sport and The Athletic, the deal would see Messi acquire the shares currently held by Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group. There is currently no fixed completion date, meaning the agreement has yet to become a completed takeover. Eldense is currently competing in the Segunda Division and is positioned near the bottom of the table. If the transaction receives the necessary approvals, Messi would gain control of a club in one of Europe’s most competitive second tiers, giving him another platform for developing young players and building a soccer operation. 🚨 BREAKING: Lionel Messi becomes new owner of La Liga 2 side CD Eldense. 🇪🇸Messi buys 100% of the club’s currently established in La Liga 2 in Spain — follows the investment made in Catalunya side UD Cornellá.🎥➕ https://t.co/TQeEVFTS51 pic.twitter.com/jyhQIOXg9X— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 9, 2026 Messi’s soccer portfolio keeps growing The Eldense agreement would make Eldense the second Spanish soccer club under Messi’s full ownership. Earlier in 2026, he completed the purchase of Catalan side UE Cornella, a club particularly known for its focus on youth development. Messi also has soccer interests outside Spain. He is a co-owner of Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside longtime friend and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez, while Argentine club Leones de Rosario FC is a family project administered by his brother Matías Messi. His portfolio also extends beyond traditional soccer. Messi is a co-owner of KRU Esports, the organization founded by Sergio Aguero, and he is expected to receive an equity stake in Inter Miami as part of his playing agreement with the MLS club. #Club / OrganizationCountryMessi’s Involvement1.EldenseSpain100% owner2.CornellaSpain100% owner3.Deportivo LSMUruguayCo-owner4.Leones de Rosario FCArgentinaFamily project5.KRU EsportsArgentinaCo-owner6.Inter MiamiUSAExpected equity stake—FC AndorraAndorraNo confirmed ownership stake There is, however, an important distinction surrounding one frequently mentioned name. Several reports and social media posts have listed FC Andorra among Messi’s clubs, but there is no clear public evidence that Messi owns a stake in the soccer club itself. His family does have business interests in Andorra, including a family office, hotels, and corporate holdings. So, how many clubs does Cristiano Ronaldo own? The comparison with Ronaldo becomes particularly interesting because the Portuguese superstar has also moved into club ownership while continuing his playing career. Ronaldo officially owns a 25% stake in Spanish second-tier club UD Almeria, an investment completed through his CR7 Sports Investments subsidiary. According to the BBC, Ronaldo acquired the Almeria stake in February 2026 and partnered with the club’s majority owners, the Saudi Arabian investment consortium SMC Group. That means Ronaldo currently has one clearly established direct soccer-club ownership stake. Almería’s presence in the same division as Eldense makes the situation even more intriguing. Messi’s potent
The Portugal captain’s latest goal against Abha carried far greater significance than the three points, as it kept alive a remarkable sequence that has now placed the Riyadh club alongside one of the most famous teams in the sport’s history. Cristiano Ronaldo has once again put his name at the center of an extraordinary moment in soccer history, helping Al-Nassr achieve something that had remained out of reach for generations. The Portugal captain’s latest goal against Abha carried far greater significance than the three points, as it kept alive a remarkable sequence that has now placed the Riyadh club alongside one of the most famous teams in the sport’s history. Al-Nassr entered Wednesday’s Saudi Pro League meeting with Abha looking to recover from its first defeat of the season. Instead, Ronaldo’s contribution provided another chapter in the club’s remarkable rise, with his 22nd-minute header from Angelo’s corner giving the hosts a 1-0 victory at Al-Awwal Park. The match was Al-Nassr’s sixth Saudi Pro League fixture of the season, with Ange Postecoglou’s side determined to respond after the 2-1 loss against Al-Ittihad. Abha, meanwhile, arrived at the bottom of the table after collecting only one point from its opening five matches. Ronaldo made the difference in Riyadh, rising to meet Angelo’s delivery and sending his header into the net in the 22nd minute. The Portuguese superstar continues to produce decisive moments at the age of 41, while Al-Nassr continues to establish itself as one of the most consistent attacking teams in Saudi soccer. This time, however, Ronaldo’s finish also helped the club move into a very special place in the history of the game. Ronaldo scores his 979th goal. 21 goals to 1000 goals pic.twitter.com/t94Tqkjv5R— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) September 9, 2026 Al-Nassr matches 87-year-old soccer record The significance of Ronaldo’s goal was revealed after the final whistle. According to Thmanyah, the Saudi league’s broadcasting network, Al-Nassr has now scored in 93 consecutive Saudi Pro League matches, matching the historic mark previously achieved by River Plate. River Plate established its legendary scoring run between 1936 and 1939, finding the net in 93 consecutive domestic league matches. That record stood for roughly 87 years before Al-Nassr finally drew level with it. The Saudi club’s remarkable sequence began in December 2023 and has survived changes in opponents, squad personnel and coaching approaches. Ronaldo has been one of the central figures in Al-Nassr’s attacking identity during this period, contributing consistently since joining the club in late 2022. CountryClubMatchesSaudi ArabiaAl-Nassr93ArgentinaRiver Plate93PortugalBenfica93Saudi ArabiaAl-Hilal88GermanyBayern Munchen87SerbiaCrvena Zvezda69GreecePAOK69SpainBarcelona63ScotlandCeltic61EnglandArsenal55 There is some conflicting information surrounding the exact starting point of the streak in the supplied reports, with one source placing the beginning after a December 2023 meeting with Al-Riyadh and another referencing the Al-Hilal defeat. However, the key milestone remains the same: Al-Nassr has now scored in 93 successive Saudi Pro League matches, equaling the historic benchmark. One more goal could make Al-Nassr stand alone Al-Nassr now has an opportunity to move beyond the mark when it returns to league action against Al-Khaleej. The club is scheduled to travel to Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam next Saturday for Matchday 7. A goal in that fixture would give Al-Nassr 94 consecutive Saudi Pro League matches with at least one goal, allowing it to establish a new league scoring streak record outright. Cristiano Ronaldo of team Al Nassr FC celebrates scoring The achievement is particularly impressive because the run has continued across multiple seasons and different versions of the squad. Players such as Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, and Angelo have all played their part in maintaining the club’s attacking consistency.
Lamine Yamal scored his first career Champions League free kick in Barcelona's 5-1 rout of Feyenoord, becoming the third-youngest player ever to do so and beating the pace set by both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Lamine Yamal scored his first-ever direct free kick in the Champions League on Wednesday, curling home during Barcelona’s 5-1 rout of Feyenoord in the 78th minute. At 19 years and 58 days old, the Spanish winger became the third-youngest player to score a free kick in the competition’s modern era. Only two players have managed the feat at a younger age: Wayne Rooney, who scored a free kick for Manchester United against Fenerbahce in 2004 at 18 years and 340 days, and Marat Izmailov, who did so for Porto against Anderlecht in 2001 at 19 years and 33 days. Yamal’s effort narrowly edges out Mario Balotelli and Miralem Pjanic, who both scored their first Champions League free kicks in 2009 at slightly older ages. The strike itself was a technical showcase: Yamal curled the ball with his left foot from roughly 20 meters out, threading it between two Feyenoord players in the wall who jumped and shifted to try to block the effort, before it dropped into the bottom corner. The goal made it 4-0 to Barcelona at the time and was his first of the new Champions League campaign. The result added further gloss to what was already a dominant night for Barcelona, who put five past Feyenoord to open their 2026-27 Champions League campaign with three points, with Raphinha scoring twice and Karim Adeyemi and deadline-day signing Gabriel Jesus also getting on the scoresheet. Lamine Yamal took the captain's armband and grabbed himself a goal ©️Don't miss the #UCL on @paramountplus 🍿 pic.twitter.com/2kVihhRd37— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 9, 2026 Yamal leaves Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi behind The milestone also puts Yamal well ahead of the pace set by two of the sport’s greatest free-kick specialists. Cristiano Ronaldo did not score his first Champions League free kick until he was 24 years and three months old, netting a memorable strike from roughly 40 yards out against Arsenal in the 2009 semifinals. Lionel Messi got there earlier, but still well behind Yamal’s timeline, scoring his first Champions League free kick against Dynamo Kyiv in December 2009 at 22 years and nearly six months old. The gap is striking: Yamal reached the milestone roughly five years before Ronaldo and more than three years before Messi did, underlining how the Barcelona academy product continues to outpace two legends of the game.
Haaland, who scored twice in the 2-0 win, was cautioned after tussling with Pablo Rosario late in the game and claims that the midfielder wanted to stop him by any means necessary.
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