It may not be long before Chinese soccer players are challenging elite performers like Lionel Messi on the world stage.

A landmark investment by Wang Jianlin, China's second-richest man, has paved the way for the young hopefuls.

Chinese real estate giant Dalian Wanda Group Co said on Wednesday it has bought a 20 percent stake in leading Spanish club Atletico Madrid for 45 million euros ($52 million), becoming the first Chinese company to invest in a major European soccer team.