{
  "id": 11297197,
  "title": "Messi finalises acquisition of second Spanish lower league club",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-finalises-acquisition-of-second-spanish-lower-league-club-11297197",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T21:18:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/10/02/messi-finalises-acquisition-of-second-spanish-lower-league-club"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Paris - International football legend Lionel Messi has officially taken ownership of Eldense, a Spanish second-division club, according to an announcement made on Thursday. Eldense, located inland from Alicante, is now the former Barcelona forward's second venture into Spanish football ownership, following his acquisition of Cornella, a club near Barcelona, in April. The club Deportivo Eldense formally confirmed their new ownership in an online statement, expressing their ambition to solidify their position and expand within professional football. Messi, currently 39 years old, has been playing for Inter Miami since 2023, where his contract reportedly includes provisions for him to become a shareholder in the MLS club following his retirement from the sport. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner announced his international retirement in late August after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.",
  "summary": "Eldense have become former Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi's second venture into Spanish football ownership after he purchased Cornella.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Messi becomes the majority owner of Spanish club Eldense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-becomes-the-majority-owner-of-spanish-club-eldense",
        "published": "2026-10-01T17:52:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Messi confirmed as new owner of Spanish club CD Eldense",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-confirmed-as-new-owner-of-spanish-club-cd-eldense",
        "published": "2026-10-01T18:02:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "Messi completes purchase of second Spanish club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-completes-purchase-of-second-spanish-club",
        "published": "2026-10-01T19:26:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Messi finalises acquisition of second Spanish lower league club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-finalises-acquisition-of-second-spanish-lower-league-club",
        "published": "2026-10-01T21:18:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Messi completes purchase of second Spanish club",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/messi-completes-purchase-of-second-spanish-club-11297605",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:13:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}