Lionel Messi’s Return Unrealistic—Says Barcelona President

Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona, declared on Wednesday that a comeback for Lionel Messi as a player at the club is “unrealistic”, despite the Argentine’s recent emotional visit to the newly renovated Camp Nou.

Messi, who joined Barcelona’s youth system at 13 and netted 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the club in 2021 when financial constraints forced his departure. Now 38 and playing for Inter Miami, he returned to Spain on Sunday for a surprise tour of Camp Nou, where he told fans:

“I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”

Yet Laporta moved quickly to quell speculation about a playing return. Speaking on Catalunya Ràdio, he said, “Out of respect to Messi … it’s not right for me to speculate on something that would not be realistic, and it’s not the moment to do it.”

The club remains keen to honour Messi’s legacy but sees that tribute as the appropriate path. “He’s playing for Inter Miami. He knows he’s loved and appreciated … and that he’ll always be welcome,” Laporta said.

Messi’s stop at Barcelona’s home ground reopened wounds about how his exit was handled, but Laporta said he had no regrets. “Barça is above everything,” he stated, while emphasizing that any speculation about returning as a player was not fair to the club’s members and staff.