Social Media Surge
Only a few hours have passed since Lionel Messi became the new owner of UE Cornellà. Despite the club never having risen above the third tier in its entire history, media interest has grown exponentially. To put it into perspective, the club’s Instagram account now boasts 593,000 followers, surpassing nine La Liga teams:
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Getafe (565k)
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Espanyol (549k)
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Mallorca (489k)
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Elche (472k)
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Osasuna (410k)
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Real Oviedo (388k)
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Rayo Vallecano (376k)
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Levante (371k)
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Deportivo Alavés (240k)
The “Ronaldo Effect” Comparison
A similar phenomenon occurred a few weeks ago with Almería, when the Andalusian side announced Cristiano Ronaldo as a co-owner. Within hours, they became the fifth most-followed team in Spain. However, Almería competes in the Segunda División and has a history in La Liga, placing them at a significantly higher level than Cornellà.
In contrast, Cornellà has been hit by a “positive storm” of notoriety that is proving quite difficult to manage. The players and the coach, suddenly faced with a barrage of interviews they never expected, admitted to being “in shock.” Adding to the surreal nature of the situation, they reportedly learned of Messi’s arrival “only through the media.”
Media Frenzy and the Road Ahead
The media impact is undeniable. Marca has already produced a report directly from the Nou Municipal de Cornellà, a modest 1,500-seat stadium. The team’s first match following the Messi announcement saw 15 accreditation requests from different news outlets. Meanwhile, street vendors have already begun printing the club’s green-and-white jerseys featuring Messi’s name and the number 10 on the back.
On the pitch, the change in ownership hasn’t caused any immediate disruption. A 1-1 draw against Grama allowed Cornellà to close the gap to just three points behind the league leaders, Manresa. With only three games left in the season and a head-to-head clash scheduled in two weeks, Cornellà is poised to dominate the Spanish headlines should they secure a victory and subsequent promotion.
Ultimately, Messi’s arrival was intended to generate attention and engagement. It has done exactly that—and more.