[AP]
[AP]

Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, has acquired a second Spanish club, becoming the owner of two teams after a similar move in April.

CD Eldense, a club in Spain's second division, announced Friday (Korean Standard Time) that Messi had taken over the club and that it was awaiting official approval from Spain's National Sports Council (CSD).

Earlier, Messi signed a deal last month to acquire the entire stake held by a Colombian investment group that had been Eldense's largest shareholder.

Eldense is the second Spanish club Messi has taken ownership of.

In April, he acquired UE Cornellà, a Catalan club competing in Spain's fifth division.

Eldense has recorded one win, two draws and four losses — five points — this season, sitting 19th out of 22 teams in the second division.

Founded in 1921, Eldense said the acquisition marks the launch of a new long-term project. "One of the greatest players in the history of world sport joins Eldense as owner on the professional Spanish football stage," the club said, adding that the project aims to promote the club's development in football, operations and community engagement.

Meanwhile, Messi's longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo (41, Al-Nassr) of Portugal also became a co-owner of a Spanish second-division club, acquiring a 25 percent stake in UD Almería in February. The moves set the stage for a new chapter in the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry — this time in the boardroom.


min3654@heraldcorp.com