Founded in 1921, Eldense have spent the vast majority of their history outside the top two divisions of Spanish football. They play their home fixtures at the modest 5,776-capacity Estadio Nuevo Pepico Amat in the city of Elda.
The club earned promotion to the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, suffered relegation in 2025, and returned to the second division this past summer. Outside Spain, Messi is also partially involved in Uruguayan side Deportivo LSM alongside Inter Miami team-mate Luis Suarez.
Ownership of both Eldense and Cornella is unlikely to cause immediate issues given the three-division gap between them. However, if Cornella rise through the leagues, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) would unlikely permit both clubs to compete in the same division under Messi’s majority ownership.
