Messi hints at Barça return? ‘I hope one day’
Lionel Messi has expressed his hope to return to FC Barcelona one day for the farewell he never received, after revisiting the club’s iconic Spotify Camp Nou stadium for the first time since his departure in 2021.
The 38-year-old forward, who currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, shared photos on social media on Monday showing him inside the partially redeveloped Camp Nou, describing the visit as an emotional homecoming.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” Messi wrote. “It’s a place where I was immensely happy. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Messi left Barcelona in August 2021 after 21 years at the club, forced to depart due to financial constraints that prevented the renewal of his contract under LaLiga’s salary regulations. His exit to Paris Saint-Germain came without a formal farewell to supporters, as COVID-19 restrictions and the club’s fiscal troubles left no opportunity for a public send-off.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has previously expressed a desire to stage a tribute match for Messi once the Camp Nou renovation is complete. The stadium, which is undergoing a €1.5 billion redevelopment, is expected to reopen fully in 2027 with an expanded capacity of 105,000.
“It would be a great way to reopen the stadium, with 105,000 fans paying tribute to Leo,” Laporta said last week. “Of course, it depends on what Messi and his camp wish. If I am still president, I would love to make it happen.”
Messi’s relationship with Laporta reportedly cooled after his abrupt exit, but the player has until now remained silent on the idea of a return for a farewell match. His latest comments mark the first public indication that he would be open to such an occasion.
Barcelona are currently operating under a temporary license allowing just under 26,000 fans into the renovated stadium, with hopes of expanding that figure to over 45,000 later this month as construction continues.
Messi, meanwhile, returned to Europe this week after scoring twice and providing two assists in Inter Miami’s 4–1 playoff victory over Nashville SC, a result that sent the MLS side into the Eastern Conference semifinals. He is expected to join the Argentina national team in Alicante ahead of their friendly against Angola on Friday, part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Over a 17-year career with Barcelona, Messi became the club’s all-time top scorer and appearance holder, registering 672 goals in 778 matches. He won 34 major trophies, including 10 LaLiga titles and four UEFA Champions League crowns.
If realized, a farewell match at a sold-out Camp Nou would provide a long-awaited closure to one of football’s most storied player-club relationships.