Lionel Messi was left astonished as more than 20,000 fans filled Elche’s Martínez Valero Stadium just to watch Argentina hold a training session ahead of its friendly against Angola. What was planned as a routine workout transformed into an unforgettable football celebration, with the Inter Miami star receiving a personalized Elche jersey to mark the moment.
Official attendance reached 20,085, turning the modest venue into a sea of light blue and white. Long before gates opened, supporters formed massive queues around the stadium, waving homemade banners, singing, and displaying Messi’s image. The giant screen lit up with Argentina’s colors, while the phrase “Coronados de gloria vivamos” appeared across the main stand, surrounded by towering images of Maradona, Messi, and Argentina’s current squad. When the players walked out to the national anthem, the crowd erupted. Every touch from Messi prompted thunderous cheers, and even a simple wave sent the stands into a frenzy. The loudest applause came when Elche presented Messi with a No. 10 shirt emblazoned with his name.
The session came after Argentina closed its training earlier in the week, a decision that led determined fans to climb rooftops, fences, and surrounding hills for a glimpse of Messi or Rodrigo De Paul. Their persistence moved the AFA to open Thursday’s session to the public. Messi later took to social media to thank the supporters, saying the affection shown in Elche “still moves me” and expressing his joy at seeing so many Argentinians among the crowd.
The display of devotion came just days after Messi quietly visited the newly renovated Camp Nou at midnight, reigniting speculation about a possible short-term Barcelona return before the 2026 World Cup. Barcelona president Joan Laporta quickly dismissed any chance of Messi rejoining as a player but confirmed the club is preparing a grand tribute once Camp Nou’s renovations are complete. He called Messi’s late-night visit a spontaneous gesture and said the finished stadium, with a capacity of 105,000, would host “the most beautiful tribute in the world.”
Despite his sentimental ties to Barcelona, Messi remains committed to Inter Miami. He recently extended his MLS contract through 2028 and has spoken about balancing his life in Florida with the emotional pull of his former home. Messi acknowledged that he and his family “miss Barcelona a lot,” noting they still dream of living there again and look forward to visiting the completed Camp Nou.
Messi is expected to start when Argentina face Angola on Friday before returning to Inter Miami for the MLS Conference semifinals on November 23, when the team meets Cincinnati.
Goal.com
