Messi reflects on past, promises future in Barcelona
Barcelona supporters were reminded this week just how strong their bond with Lionel Messi remains.
In a fan poll highlighted by the Catalan outlet SPORT, the 38-year-old was selected as the “most beloved player” in FC Barcelona’s history, a title that reignited long-running conversations about whether Messi will someday resume a formal role with the club he shaped for nearly two decades.
A recognition rooted in shared history
The acknowledgement comes at a symbolic moment for Barcelona. The reconstructed Camp Nou, set to reopen after a lengthy renovation, recently received a quiet, private visit from Messi during a trip to the city.
For many fans, his presence in the stadium, even unofficially, felt like a reminder of the era he defined.
Read also: Liverpool Prepare €100m Swoop for Barcelonas Raphinha
In an interview with SPORT, Messi said the recognition carried emotional weight because of what the club has meant to him. “We’ve been through a lot together, both good and not so good… This is my home, my place, and my people,” he explained.
The poll placed him ahead of legendary figures such as Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Andrés Iniesta. For younger supporters who never saw the early years of his career, his impact remains central to the club’s identity.
A legacy still towering over the present day
Messi’s numbers remain staggering even years after his departure.
Across 778 competitive matches, he delivered 672 goals, 10 La Liga titles, and four Champions League trophies, achievements that continue to shape expectations for current Barça squads.
Read also: Inside Jake Paul’s opponent hunt
But beyond statistics, Messi's influence spread across the club’s culture, economy, and global image. His rise from La Masia prospect to an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner paralleled Barcelona’s transformation into one of the sport’s dominant modern institutions.
Life in Miami, heart in Barcelona
Although Messi is currently focused on his role with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he recently signed an extension keeping him under contract through 2028, his comments make clear that his long-term future points back to Catalonia.
He told SPORT he intends to return not as a player, but as a supporter living in the city he considers home.
“We miss it a lot, so we’ll be back there,” he said, adding that he imagines himself attending matches “like any other fan.”
Messi and his wife Antonela have spoken previously about their plans to settle again in Barcelona with their children once his active career winds down.
Read also: Arsenal close to finalising long-term Saka deal
Lingering emotions from an abrupt exit
Messi also reflected on the circumstances of his 2021 exit to Paris Saint-Germain, an emotional moment complicated by pandemic restrictions and Barcelona’s financial turmoil.
He told SPORT the move only happened because the club could not offer a new contract and that he regrets leaving without a proper goodbye.
He described the period as unusual, pointing out that pandemic restrictions prevented him from saying farewell in front of supporters, leaving a chapter of his career feeling unfinished.
Future plans and olympic challenges ahead
At 38, Messi remains central to Argentina’s international ambitions, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the national team will attempt to defend its title.
Read also: Ronaldo expected to secure fresh $100m in America
Speculation about a short-term Barcelona loan during MLS off-seasons has cooled, however, with club sources in Spain and MLS observers describing such a move as impractical given his age, schedule, and Miami’s commercial reliance on him.
What comes next for Barcelona and Messi?
For Barcelona fans, the significance of Messi’s words lies not in transfer rumors but in something more enduring: the expectation that he will once again belong to the city, whether as an ambassador, adviser, or simply as a passionate presence in the stands.
The club is entering a transitional period marked by stadium redevelopment, financial recovery efforts, and a new generation of players carrying the burden of massive expectations.
Messi’s eventual return in any capacity may offer stability, symbolism, and a sense of continuity with its most successful era.
Read also: Why Salah’s future at Liverpool remains unsettled
Sources: SPORT, interviews with Lionel Messi, historical FC Barcelona match records.
