Lionel Messi hints at emotional return to Barcelona for long-awaited farewell

Record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has reignited excitement among Barcelona fans after revealing that he hopes to return to the Spotify Camp Nou one day to receive the farewell he “never got.”

Widely regarded as the greatest player in Barcelona’s illustrious history, Messi was instrumental in the club’s dominance over the past two decades, leading them to numerous domestic and international titles.

The 38-year-old Argentinian’s departure from his boyhood club in 2021 was filled with heartbreak and controversy, as financial constraints forced Barcelona to let him go without the proper send-off he deserved. Now, years later, Messi has the Catalan capital buzzing after sharing an emotional social media post during his recent visit to Spain.

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“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. It’s a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do,” Messi wrote on Instagram.

Anoche volví a un lugar que extraño con el alma. Un lugar donde fui inmensamente feliz, donde ustedes me hicieron sentir mil veces la persona más feliz del mundo. Ojalá algún día pueda volver, y no solo para despedirme como jugador, como nunca pude hacerlo…
💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/I4yTNSY1fp

— Leo Messi (@leomessisite) November 10, 2025

Messi’s post included photos of him walking around the Camp Nou, which has been under redevelopment since 2023. The visit came just before he joined the Argentina national team for international duty, sparking widespread speculation about a potential tribute match.

Having joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2001, Messi spent two decades with the club, guiding them to nine LaLiga titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies, and seven Copa del Rey crowns, among numerous other honors. His departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 marked the end of an era, but his legacy at the club remains unmatched.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has repeatedly expressed his desire to welcome Messi back to Camp Nou for a tribute game once the stadium’s renovation is complete.

“It would be a great way to open the stadium when it’s completely finished, with 105,000 fans packed in and paying tribute to Leo. Always, of course, depends on what the Messi camp wants. There are also presidential elections before then, but in the case I am still president, I would love that,” Laporta said.

Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals and their record appearance holder with 778 matches played. He lifted a staggering 34 trophies during his time with the club, cementing his status as not only Barcelona’s greatest ever player but one of the greatest in football history.

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