Inter Miami CF star Lionel Messi made headlines again on Thursday after the unexpected announcement that he had purchased Spanish fifth-tier team UE Cornellà.
The impact has been swift. Messi’s acquisition was hailed as a “great day” by Cornellà de Llobregat’s mayor, Antonio Balmón. Meanwhile, the club’s Instagram followers skyrocketed from 40,000 to nearly 200,000 just 24 hours after the announcement.
This isn’t Messi’s first foray into team ownership; he also co-owns Uruguayan side Deportivo LSM with his Miami and former Barça teammate Luis Suárez.
What Messi intends for Cornellà, located just south of Barcelona and wearing green-and-white kits, is yet to be revealed. However, given the club’s history of developing talent, there’s potential for growth in the upcoming years.
Here’s a closer look at Messi’s new club.
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1. A Rivals’ Proximity
Messi has literally positioned himself near Barcelona’s rivals, Espanyol. The semi-pro team Cornellà plays at Camp Municipal de Cornellà, which is mere steps from Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium. Fans can transition from one stadium to the other in less than a minute.
However, the two venues differ significantly. Cornellà has an artificial pitch, a single recognized stand, and a modest capacity of about 1,500 fans. In contrast, the RCDE Stadium can accommodate 37,776 spectators and has a 4-star UEFA rating, opening its doors in 2009.
Espanyol’s history in Cornellà—a municipality within the Barcelona metro area—has been used against them in their rivalry with Barça. Officially known as RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, the club was founded in the city and spent over a century there before relocating to RCDE Stadium. Controversially, former Barça defender Gerard Piqué, who owns second-division side Andorra, referred to them in 2018 as “RCD Espanyol de Cornellà.”
2. A Proven Talent Pool
Cornellà has established itself as a launching pad for many successful careers. Notable alumni include current Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, former Barça defender Jordi Alba, and current Barça center-back Gerard Martín. Other notable players like Espanyol’s Javi Puado and Real Betis‘ Aitor Ruibal, as well as players from Austin FC and Senegal’s national team, like Keita Baldé, have also played for Cornellà.
Additionally, the youth teams regularly compete against Barça and Espanyol, providing opportunities to showcase talent and potentially secure moves to nearby La Liga clubs.
The first team has often been in the same division as Barcelona’s B and even C teams. Interestingly, Messi himself played for Barça’s now-defunct C team in 2004 and faced Cornellà in a league match that ended in a goalless draw.
3. Recent Struggles
Interestingly, Messi could have played against Cornellà in the Copa del Rey in 2021, but missed out due to a two-game suspension he received after a red card in the Spanish Supercopa final.
Cornellà pushed Barça to extra time in that match before losing 2-0, but their fortunes have declined since. They were relegated back-to-back in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, dropping to the fifth tier.
Now part of the Tercera Federation, Cornellà competes among 324 clubs divided into 18 regional groups, all striving to ascend the Spanish football hierarchy.
4. Rivalry within the Ranks
This season’s promotion race adds an extra twist, as Cornellà is vying for success alongside Messi’s former Barça and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba, who is now an owner at L’Hospitalet, another club south of Barcelona.
Alba, along with former Barça midfielder Thiago Alcântara, who is currently part of Hansi Flick’s staff at Camp Nou, has been advising L’Hospitalet on various strategic and sporting matters since last year.
Both Cornellà and L’Hospitalet find themselves in playoff positions, separated by just five points with four games remaining. In a scenario reminiscent of the popular “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary featuring Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the two teams are set to clash on the final day of the season.
5. Potential American Football Ties?
With the focus on celebrity owners in European football, Messi’s entry into Cornellà might also hint at rekindling the club’s previous relationship with Tom Brady’s Birmingham City. Back in 2018, Cornellà and Birmingham formed a strategic partnership centered around youth development, scouting collaboration, and player exchanges. Despite some minor deals since, this partnership is currently inactive.
Additionally, the American football connection continues, as former NFL star J.J. Watt became a minority investor in Espanyol last year.