BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 16 (UPI) — A few miles from Rosario, the Argentine city where Lionel Messi was born, the soccer star’s family this week unveiled plans to build a 15,000-seat stadium in Alvear, in Santa Fe province.

The project, called “Estación Leones,” is to be developed on a 128-acre site and would include housing, commercial space and a stadium that would become the new home of Leones Fútbol Club, an organization linked to the Messi family and headed by Lionel Messi’s older brother, Matías.

The club will have about 22 acres within the development to build its headquarters, sports facilities and the stadium.

The proposal calls for the stadium to host activities beyond soccer matches. According to Argentine business news outlet iProfesional, plans include concerts, cultural performances, large-scale shows and other events throughout the year.

Leones competes in Primera C, one of the divisions of Argentine soccer, but does not have its own stadium and must use other venues for its home matches.

Leones’ entry into competitions organized by the Argentine Football Association, or AFA, the country’s governing body for soccer, increased the need for the club to have its own stadium.

Daniel Quinteros, the club’s sporting director, was among those who announced details of the project’s progress.

“Everything will be up to the standards of the Messi family. It won’t be something thrown together. We hope it will be completed in a couple of years and that everyone can enjoy the stadium,” Quinteros told iProfesional.

The first public indication of the project came in December 2025, when Alvear Mayor Carlos Pighín confirmed that discussions were underway about a possible stadium in Greater Rosario, the metropolitan area centered on Rosario.

At the time, neither a location nor a final project had been determined, Argentine sports newspaper Olé reported.

According to Argentine media reports, the project’s master plan includes 510 residential lots, with 300 designated for an open residential development and another 210 for a gated community with shared spaces and services for residents.

The plan also includes eight commercial lots of about 19,375 square feet each, intended for large retail developments.

Lionel Messi’s business interests span hospitality, real estate, restaurants, beverages, apparel and entertainment in several countries. In Argentina, his business and investment projects are concentrated mainly in Rosario and include ventures in the restaurant, media and real estate sectors.

Among them is Carrasco M, a luxury residential development he shares with former Argentina national team player Ángel Di María, Caras magazine reported

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