Lionel Messi’s influence in Argentina continues to grow as family club Leones FC joins the professional ranks

Lionel Messi‘s legacy Argentina has already been cemented after breaking records with the national team and capturing two Copa América titles and one World Cup. Now that legacy will grow even further as his family club, Lions FC, is preparing to turn professional for the first time in its history.

Leones de Rosario Football Club was founded in 2015 in Messi’s hometown of Rosario, located in ArgentinaSanta Fe County. While the Messi family leads the project, Lionel’s brother Matías Horacio Messi serves as the club’s top executive, his own Sister Maria Sol is an alternate board member, and his cousin Tomás Matías Messi acts as deputy auditor.

Since its founding, the club has competed in local tournaments while steadily moving up Argentina’s professional rankings. That journey now appears to have gained momentum following a resolution published on the same day Lionel Messi signed his new contract with Inter Miami.

According to official bulletin No. 6752 of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the document reads: “Affiliation with Leones Fútbol Club (Rosario, Santa Fe Province) to participate in the Primera ‘C’ division from the 2026 season [in accordance with Article 10, Section 1, Subsection d), Article 11, and Article 25, Subsection m) of the Statute].”

Due to the resolution it is Leones de Rosario FC skips the Amateur Promotional Tournament (Argentina’s Fifth Division) and go straight to Primera C, the fourth level of the country. The decision has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some questioning the legitimacy of the move while others see it as a gesture of appreciation to Messi’s family for his contributions to the national team.

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Messi shares the ownership project with Suárez in Uruguay

Although Lionel Messi has no direct involvement with Leones de Rosario FC, his influence extends elsewhere in South American football. By 2025, the Argentinian star teamed up with his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez to form Deportivo LSM (representing their initials) in Uruguay.

Deportivo LSM currently sit at the top of the Uruguayan Divisional D (the fourth and lowest level in the country) next to Rincón FC, with six wins and two losses. Both Messi and Suárez have shown their support through videos and motivational posts on social media, highlighting their commitment to building a club that could one day compete at the professional level.