According to The Sun, the two football legends have faced each other countless times on the pitch, and now both are approaching the end of their professional careers. Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing 1,000 goals in Saudi Arabia, while Lionel Messi is gradually winding down his career in the United States. But this rivalry won't end when they hang up their boots. A new competition awaits them on the unfamiliar stage of Spain's Segunda División.

Lionel Messi has just joined the ranks of owners and minority shareholders of famous Segunda División clubs, a group that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Gerard Piqué's FC Andorra, and Girona, led by Pep Guardiola's brother Pere.

In February of this year, Cristiano Ronaldo made a significant investment in Almería, acquiring a 25% stake and beginning a partnership with majority shareholder SMC Group, backed by Saudi Arabia.

The Andalusian club boasts an 18,000-capacity stadium and has experience competing in La Liga, finishing eighth in the 2007-08 season.

Lionel Messi, by contrast, took the "big fish eats small fish" approach, directly buying all shares of the lesser-known Valencian club Elche.

This blue-and-red team was founded by Barcelona fans—Messi's former club, Barça—and only qualified for the Segunda División last season. Their home stadium holds fewer than 6,000 spectators.

It is reported that the 39-year-old Inter Miami player was moved by Elche's story and attracted by the team's use of Barcelona's iconic blue and red colors.

The acquisition still requires approval from Spanish authorities, but Elche has already publicly announced the news. Messi also shared a photo on his social media showing him celebrating the team's 4-1 victory over Oviedo.

Elche's revenues and expenses are among the lowest in the Segunda División.

However, Messi's arrival will certainly bring changes to the club.

He certainly has the financial means, with an estimated net worth close to 1 billion pounds sterling.

In an official statement, Elche called Messi's acquisition "fresh and exciting," adding: "One of the most important figures in sports history entering Spanish professional football as owner of Elche marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at improving our sporting, institutional, and social development."

The prospect of Almería competing against Elche, with Cristiano Ronaldo involved, is enough to excite fans.

The two teams have already met in the opening match of the current Segunda División season, with Almería securing a convincing 3-0 home victory.

The return fixture will take place on May 2 (CET) at Elche's home stadium.

This is not Messi's first experience as a club owner; he acquired Catalan fifth-division side CF Reus Deportiu in April.

However, this is clearly a more significant step. This new era of ownership could reignite the rivalry between these legends. In 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo once stated that this competition was "over."

Переведено ИИ.

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