Back at Barca, Messi receives an extraordinary 'gift' from Laporta

Lionel Messi might return to play for Barcelona, and the Argentine superstar will be honored with a special tribute from the club’s management.

One of the reunions fans have always dreamed of is seeing Lionel Messi don the Barcelona jersey again. According to recent statements from club president Joan Laporta, that possibility no longer seems distant. The idea of bringing Messi back, even symbolically, has been reiterated as part of Barcelona’s broader future vision.

During a visit to Girona, Laporta spoke about Messi’s legacy and the club’s long-term project. He shared: “Like Kubala and Cruyff, I believe Messi deserves a statue, and we should also organize a tribute match. That is something we are ready to do when the time is right. A statue and a proper farewell are what he should receive. Messi’s contract runs until 2028, and that will be the ideal timeframe.”

These remarks were made by Laporta during his campaign for the club’s presidential election. He is not the only one expressing the desire to reconnect Messi with Barcelona. Another candidate, Marc Ciria, also affirmed that regardless of the election outcome, Messi should have a new role at the club where he made his name.

Barcelona will hold the presidential election on March 15. Messi remains a highly emotional figure in the city, especially after the heartfelt farewell in 2021, an event that deeply impacted both the political and sporting aspects of the club. Currently, Laporta is considered the leading candidate before the vote.

Messi’s entire European career is linked to 17 seasons at Barcelona, from 2004 to 2021. During that period, he played 778 matches, scored 672 goals, provided 269 assists, and won a total of 35 trophies. Barcelona claimed La Liga 10 times and the Champions League 4 times during this golden era, cementing their dominance in Spain and Europe.

Currently, Lionel Messi still holds a contract with Inter Miami at least until 2028. The United States is where he plays professionally and is opening an important chapter in the final phase of his career, influencing his next steps both on and off the field.

Messi has repeatedly expressed his desire to one day return to Barcelona. Whether that return happens as a player in a farewell match, as a club ambassador, or in another official role remains uncertain. However, Laporta has made it clear that the door is always open, and the prospect of this reunion continues to fuel the imagination of Barcelona fans.