Lionel Messi has given Spanish club Cornella a major publicity boost by appearing in the team’s green-and-white shirt alongside his three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
The Inter Miami forward shared the appearance as Cornella prepare to begin their new season, several months after he became the latest professional football figure to take an ownership role at the Catalan club.
Messi decided in April to become the new owner of Cornella, following the example of several of his professional colleagues who have invested in football clubs. His latest appearance has now placed the Spanish side in the spotlight beyond Catalonia, with the Argentina international pictured wearing the club’s colours alongside his family.
Cornella published the images on its account on X, accompanying them with a message celebrating Messi’s connection with the club and the growing number of people wearing its green colours.
“Leo Messi i la seva familia ja estan preparats per a l’inici de temporada. 💚De Cornella al mon, cada cop som mes vestint de verd com en Leo i amb ganes d’arrencar el nostre gran repte.Som-hi,@ue_cornella!pic.twitter.com/2LHGllm1hF”
The post described Messi and his family as ready for the start of the season and said the club’s green identity was spreading from Cornella to the rest of the world. It also called on the club to begin what it described as a major challenge.
The photographs offered a striking contrast to Messi’s usual public role with Inter Miami, where he continues to produce decisive performances despite being 39 years old.
The Argentine recently scored four times in Inter Miami’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Montreal, underlining his continued influence on the pitch. That display came as Messi remained one of the main figures attracting attention to the Major League Soccer side.
His involvement with Cornella gives him a separate connection with Spanish football, where he has long been admired, while the family photograph has given the Catalan club an unusually high-profile start to its season preparations.
Cornella’s decision to share the images on social media means Messi’s ownership role has been linked directly with the club’s public launch for the new campaign. Wearing the same colours as his sons, Messi helped present the club’s identity to an international audience without taking part in a match or formal event.
For Cornella, the appearance provides a global platform as the club prepares for the season ahead. For Messi, it was a rare public moment away from his Inter Miami duties, coming after another outstanding personal contribution in front of goal.
