Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s biggest icon after the little magician spent his most days of life playing for the Blaugrana and became the legend of the club.
Lionel Messi celebrates his 35th birthday today.
A candle for every trophy he won at Barcelona 🎂 pic.twitter.com/GuJVXUN7EF
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 24, 2022
After joining Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, at the age of 13 and working his way up to the first team, Messi achieved the feat of club’s highest goal scorer and has the most appearances for Catalonia.
During his time at Barcelona, he established himself as one of the greatest soccer players of all time and helped the team win numerous titles, including four UEFA Champions League titles and ten La Liga championships.
How many times has Messi kissed the Barca crest over the years, and people still question his love for Barca. Did their history of football start in 2021? pic.twitter.com/YtlZ0AFDnW
— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) February 9, 2023
However, due to the financial fair play regulations and Juan Laporta’s remissness, Messi left Barcelona in 2021 and joined the French capital PSG.
Messi’s contract will be over following the ongoing campaign and the Argentine is unlikely to extend the contract, Barcelona president Juan Laporta hasn’t rule out a move for the greatest footballer of all time.
🚨🚨| Joan Laporta wants to fix his relationship with Leo Messi & believes that he is still the best player in the world. There have been contacts between them via intermediaries. Laporta wants Messi to return to FC Barcelona this summer & retire at the club.@ferrancorreas [🎖️] pic.twitter.com/za8yMYC7zB
— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) February 9, 2023
According to Football Espana, Lionel Messi’s brother Matias went for a dig at the Barca President during a Twitch stream with Messi’s nephew Tomi.
The two discussed about Messi’s time in Catalonia while Matias revealed his desire to see Laporta ejected from Barcelona.
“I have a Sport [Spanish newspaper] clipping stuck in my house that says, ‘Messi should return to Barcelona,’ and I subtitled it, ‘Hahahaha, we are not going back to Barcelona, and if we do, we are going to do a good cleaning. Among them, kick out Joan Laporta.’ I don’t like him even a little.” he said.
“People [in Barcelona] did not support him. People should have gone out to do a march or something, let Laporta leave and Messi stay. We are not going back to Barcelona again.”
❗️Matías Messi (Leo's brother): "People in Barcelona did not support Leo. They should have done a march or something. Let Laporta leave and Messi stay. Spanish people are traitors. I'm telling you this because I want you to hear it from us, not somewhere else." pic.twitter.com/feAY8fpFUV
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) February 8, 2023
“The Spanish are traitors. I tell you because I want it to come out of our guts and not listen to things that are not true.”- Matias further added.
It is not clear what the future holds for Messi and whether he will return to Barcelona in the future, but it is safe to say that he will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the club.