Marc Ciria Confident Lionel Messi Wants Barcelona Return
Barcelona presidential candidate Marc Ciria has declared his confidence that Lionel Messi wants to return to the club, placing the Argentine icon at the heart of his vision ahead of the 2026 elections. Ciria, who will challenge incumbent president Joan Laporta, has stated that bringing Messi back to Spotify Camp Nou would be a top priority if he wins the race.
Messi left Barcelona in emotional circumstances in 2021 after the club were unable to renew his contract due to financial and La Liga regulatory constraints. The forward joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, where he continues to play at the age of 38.
Barcelona’s financial crisis was central to Messi’s departure, with the club citing structural and economic barriers that prevented a renewal. Since then, Messi has added two Ligue 1 titles with PSG and has enjoyed remarkable success in the United States, leading Inter Miami to the 2025 MLS Cup and earning league MVP honors for the second consecutive year.
Those achievements came after Messi signed an initial two and a half year contract with Inter Miami in 2023, later extending his deal through to 2028. That long-term commitment makes an immediate playing return to Barcelona highly improbable, a reality acknowledged by the current club leadership.
Laporta recently described a Messi comeback as unrealistic, while stressing his desire to honor the club’s all-time leading scorer with a tribute match once renovations at Spotify Camp Nou are completed. The Barcelona president emphasized that speculation over a return would be inappropriate, but confirmed that plans are in place to celebrate Messi’s legacy in front of a full stadium.
Despite that stance, Ciria believes Messi’s presence is essential to Barcelona’s future. Campaigning under the Moviment 42 banner, the economist argues that Messi’s return should be viewed not as a sentimental move, but as a strategic decision tied to the club’s long-term financial recovery.
The discussion comes at a time when Barcelona continue to navigate economic instability, even as the team pushes for stability on and off the pitch. Ciria has positioned himself as the candidate best equipped to address those challenges, with Messi seen as a central pillar in restoring revenue growth and global influence.
According to Ciria, Messi’s role would extend far beyond the pitch. He has spoken of building a structured project in which the Argentine would act as a strategic partner, contributing to commercial growth, global branding, and long-term sustainability across multiple areas of the club.
Ciria has highlighted Barcelona’s current revenue figures to underline his argument. The club reported earnings of €994 million, a figure he notes is barely higher than the €990 million generated in the 2017–18 season. Adjusted for inflation, Ciria argues Barcelona should now be producing closer to €1.2 billion annually.
As the 2026 presidential election approaches, Messi’s name is already shaping the political landscape at Barcelona. Whether his future involvement comes as a player, ambassador, or strategic partner, the debate underscores how central the club legend remains to Barcelona’s identity and ambitions moving forward.