Lionel Messi could become the third player immortalized with a statue at Camp Nou. “We will prepare the project, we will speak to your family and, if they agree, we will move forward with the plan”, says the Barcelona president. Recently, the Argentine made a surprise visit to the Catalan club’s premises.
The relationship between Lionel Messi and Barcelona was once again highlighted after the Argentine made an unexpected visit – he did not inform anyone in advance – to the Camp Nou, which was still undergoing renovation work. The club’s president, Joan Laporta, took advantage of the moment to reveal his desire to honor the player with a statue at the entrance to the stadium.
“We, as Barça fans, would love to have a statue in honor of Lionel Messi in the new stadium. Messi deserves to have his statue. We will prepare the project, we will speak to his family and, if they agree, we will move forward with the plan,” said Laporta.
If the project comes to fruition, Messi will be the third player immortalized with a statue at Camp Nou, joining Johan Cruyff, a historic Dutch footballer and coach, and László Kubala, one of the club’s first idols.
The Inter Miami star stepped onto the Camp Nou pitch, took some photos and declared himself on social media, where confessed the emotion of returning “to a place” that he misses “with his soul”, remembering the years in which he was “immensely happy”.
The ancient star blaugrana He also regretted never having an official farewell game when he left the club in 2021, to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, before heading to Inter Miami two years later.
“I hope I can come back one day and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I have never been able to do…”, wrote Messi, leaving the door open to a possible reunion with Barcelona, the club where he became a world football legend.
Over 17 seasons with Barcelona, Lionel Messi scored 672 goals in 778 official games. During this period, he won dozens of titles, including four Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups and ten Spanish championships, becoming the most titled and influential player in the history of the Catalan club.
