Barcelona president Joan Laporta has dismissed the idea of Lionel Messi returning to play for the club, calling it “unrealistic,” but says he intends to honour the legendary forward with a tribute match once the Nou Camp’s renovation is complete.
Messi, 37, recently visited the stadium and expressed a desire to return “not just to say goodbye as a player.”
Laporta acknowledged that Messi’s 2021 departure to Paris Saint-Germain, amid Barcelona’s financial troubles, was not the farewell either party wanted.
Now with Inter Miami and contracted until 2028, Messi remains Barcelona’s all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 games, and Laporta said he deserves “the best tribute in the world” before 105,000 fans.
