Lionel Messi buys UE Cornellà and deepens his Barcelona ties

April 17, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

A deal confirmed by the club

According to UE Cornellà’s official announcement, Messi has completed the acquisition of the club and is now its new owner. In its statement, Cornellà presented the change as part of a long term plan centered on sporting growth, institutional stability and youth development, while also stressing Messi’s lasting connection to Barcelona and the surrounding region.

MARCA, in María C. Jiménez’s report, framed the purchase in much the same way, as another sign that Messi’s relationship with Barcelona extends well beyond his playing years at FC Barcelona.

A club with local roots and academy reach

In UE Cornellà’s club history page, the club says its current structure dates to 1951, even though its football roots go back further. The same history outlines a steady climb through the Spanish system and a reputation that grew well beyond the local level, especially through its development work and its presence in Catalan football.

On a separate academy graduates page, Cornellà points to players such as Jordi Alba, Keita Baldé and Ilie Sánchez as examples of footballers who came through its setup before moving on to bigger stages. That background matters here, because Messi is not taking over a club known only for its badge or location. He is stepping into an institution that sees youth development as part of its identity.

Promotion race gives the move immediate weight

According to UE Cornellà’s match report from the 0-1 win over UE Tona, the team sits third on 55 points after 30 matches and remains firmly in the race for promotion. That gives the ownership change an immediate sporting context, because this is not a club waiting for a rebuild from the ground up. It is already playing for something tangible in the closing stretch of the season.

What Messi does with Cornellà over the longer term will take time to judge. For now, the story is simple enough, a club with deep local roots, a live promotion push and a new owner whose ties to Barcelona still carry weight across the game.

Sources: UE Cornellà official announcement, UE Cornellà club history, UE Cornellà academy graduates, UE Cornellà 0-1 UE Tona match report, MARCA report by María C. Jiménez