Leo Messi chooses Castelldefels to open his milanesa restaurant

BarcelonaLeo Messi has chosen Castelldefels to open the first European establishment of El Club de la Milanesa, an Argentine food restaurant chain. The footballer is one of the main partners of the franchise, which has over 70 locations in Argentina, Uruguay, and the United States. The company wants to make the international leap and expand beyond America. Its objective is to open two more locations in Barcelona and five in total in Catalonia during the first years of activity. The exact location and opening date of the Castelldefels establishment are unknown, but the company intends to open the restaurant before the end of the year.

Messi has explained in various interviews that the milanesa is his favorite dish. The footballer became a partner of the company in mid-last year. According to franchise data, El Club de la Milanesa billed over half a million euros in Argentina in 2025. The announcement of Messi's new restaurant coincides with the debut of the first women's team in the history of UE Cornellà, the club that the Argentine bought three months ago.

Messi is not the only footballer who has bet on the milanesa business. At the time when the Argentine and his friend Luis Suárez played for Barça, both frequented a beachfront establishment in Castelldefels called Chalito. This beach bar, specializing in Argentine gastronomy with a certain Italian influence, is known for its homemade milanesas. Suárez has been one of the owners for years, and the chain has more than six locations in Barcelona.