BARCELONA (BN24) — Lionel Messi made an unannounced visit to his former home, Spotify Camp Nou, sparking an emotional reaction from FC Barcelona supporters who have long awaited his return. The Argentine star’s surprise visit on Sunday marked the first time he had stepped inside the renovated stadium since his 2021 departure from the club.
Messi, 38, shared photos from inside the iconic venue on social media, expressing his longing for a proper farewell that he never received when he left for Paris Saint-Germain amid Barcelona’s financial crisis. “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, 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.”
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner spent 17 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s record appearance holder and all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 matches. His sudden exit in 2021, compounded by COVID-19 restrictions, meant he never had a farewell match before joining PSG.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has repeatedly voiced his desire to bring Messi back for a tribute game once the stadium’s renovation is completed. “It would be a great way to open the stadium when it’s completely finished—with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo,” Laporta said recently. He added that the final decision would depend on Messi and the timing of the next presidential elections.
Messi’s relationship with Laporta cooled after his departure, and the Argentine had not publicly addressed the possibility of a tribute match until now. His latest message, however, appeared to soften that stance, giving hope to fans eager to see him honored in front of a full Camp Nou crowd.
Work on the stadium, closed for redevelopment since 2023, continues. Barcelona currently has permission to host 25,991 fans at games, with plans to expand to 45,401 later this month. The project, expected to finish by 2027, will increase total capacity to 105,000.
Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, returned to Europe after leading his MLS team to victory in the first round of the playoffs against Nashville SC. He scored twice and assisted two goals in the decisive Game 3 to advance Miami to the Eastern Conference semifinals against FC Cincinnati.
Messi is currently in Spain before joining Argentina’s national team in Alicante for a friendly against Angola, as the reigning world champions prepare for next summer’s World Cup.
For Barcelona fans, his quiet visit rekindled memories of his glory years and revived hope for the grand farewell he never received.
