Beyond the Pitch: Every Football Club Lionel Messi Has Added to His Growing Empire

Lionel Messi has built a sporting legacy quite unlike anyone else's. For most of the soccer world, he stands as the greatest player to have ever graced the game, seemingly defying the effects of aging and still able to compete with the elite at 39 years old.

World Cup triumph in Qatar saw Messi, in the memorable words of English commentator Peter Drury, "conquer his final peak", ensuring his illustrious career would not end with a lingering sense of unfulfilled potential.

His performances in North America this past summer only added to his legend, even if a flawed and disorganized Argentine side fell just short and Kylian Mbappé controversially claimed the Golden Boot from under his nose. Now, a soccer-obsessed nation braces itself for a period of deep mourning.

Messi may no longer be the driving force of La Albiceleste, having stepped away from international duty after 208 appearances and a staggering collection of records that may never be surpassed. Yet the 39-year-old has no plans to walk away from soccer entirely.

He's positioning himself for a future that remains closely tied to his lifelong passion, blending soccer with a growing interest in the business world. "I would like to keep learning [about business] because I know nothing, and I am just starting out," Messi told the America Business Forum last year.

Messi is venturing into club ownership, and he's already made moves on several fronts.

Deportivo LSM

Messi has entered into a joint venture with former Barcelona teammate and current Inter Miami colleague Luis Suárez. The pair co-founded a new club, Deportivo LSM, in Uruguay, Suárez's home country.

The initiative originated with Suárez, whose project began with the funding of a 20-acre sports complex constructed in 2018. The facility houses a synthetic turf stadium with a seating capacity of 1,400.

"I'm proud and happy that you chose me, so I hope to contribute everything I can to continue growing and, above all, to be by your side in this," Messi said to Suárez once his involvement in the venture became public.

The newly formed club is based in Ciudad de la Costa, Uruguay's second-most populated city, and has already earned promotion to the country's third division in their debut season.

However, the ownership group has already parted ways with founding manager Rafael Cánovas following a poor start to the current campaign. Former Nacional striker Álvaro Apólito was appointed as his replacement at the end of September.

UE Cornellà

While Messi lends his support to Suárez's Uruguayan venture, he holds outright ownership of UE Cornellà.

The Argentine finalized his acquisition of the club in April, with Cornellà currently playing in Spain's fifth tier. Founded 75 years ago in 1951, the club is one of Catalonia's most storied institutions, and upon welcoming their new owner, Cornellà stated: "This move reinforces Messi's close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia."

Messi spent a large portion of his adult life in Catalonia, having joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000 and remaining with the Blaugrana until the club's financial difficulties forced his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague describes Cornellà as the "nursery where young players grow", with Arsenal's David Raya and accomplished left back Jordi Alba among its most prominent former players.

It's a club built on development, with Messi taking a long-term view of the project.

CD Eldense

Cornellà may have been Messi's first acquisition, but CD Eldense is the Argentine's flagship project.

Eldense announced Messi as their new owner at the beginning of September, and Balague notes that the Spanish second-tier club will "lead Messi's football operation".

"The arrival of one of the most important figures in the history of the sport as owner of CD Eldense marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at promoting the club's sporting, institutional, and social development," Eldense declared following the official confirmation of Messi's takeover.

While the club's new owner keeps a watchful eye on affairs in Alicante, Messi is trusting those closest to him to manage day-to-day operations until he can devote more of his attention to the project.

The club has brought in former Villarreal boss Javi Calleja to help guide them through a challenging season, with staying up the primary objective for the new ownership.

Inter Miami

Messi may never pull on the Albiceleste shirt again, but he has yet to draw the curtain on his playing days. His deal with Inter Miami runs through 2028, and provided his performances don't decline sharply over the coming years, there is every possibility the Argentine could extend his time with the Herons.

He remains the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer (MLS), set to earn over $28 million in guaranteed compensation from the league for the 2026 season, with up to $60 million more coming from Inter Miami directly. Regardless, Miami's bold bet on Messi has undeniably paid dividends both on and off the pitch.

And his connection to the franchise will not end when he eventually retires. His agreement with Miami includes an option to take on a minority ownership stake once he hangs up his boots, though the exact size of that share remains undisclosed.