Lionel Messi goes back home to Barcelona: “I hope I can return”

Barcelona legend Lionel Messi has set foot once again on the pitch of the Spotify Camp Nou, the stadium he says he misses “with all [his] soul” and where he once felt “the happiest person in the world.”

The Argentine forward stunned fans by posting a photo on Instagram showing himself strolling across the grass of the place he called home for nearly two decades. The post included a heartfelt caption: “Last night I went back to a place I miss with all my soul. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world.”

Symbolic as Spotify Camp Nou reopens

Messi’s visit came just days after Barcelona reopened the doors of the Spotify Camp Nou for a public training session that drew 23,000 fans. The timing didn’t seem entirely coincidental. That same day, Barça president Joan Laporta once again spoke about the long-awaited tribute still owed to the club’s greatest player.

“It would be a beautiful way to inaugurate the new stadium, with a tribute to Leo Messi and a full house,” Laporta said. “It depends on what he wants, but I’d love to make it happen as long as I’m still president.”

How Messi’s relationship with Barcelona broke down

Relations between Messi’s family and Laporta remain strained. The rift dates back to 2021, when the president said the club’s dire financial situation made it impossible to renew Messi’s contract. The decision devastated the forward, who had cut his vacation short expecting to sign an extension, only to end up joining Paris Saint-Germain instead.

“I hope I can return one day”

Despite that painful exit, Messi has never hidden his affection for Barcelona or his emotional bond with the club. His latest post makes that clear once again. The eternal No. 10, now with young Lamine Yamal wearing the number, left fans dreaming of seeing him back at the Camp Nou one day.

“I hope one day I can return,” he wrote, “and not only to say goodbye as a player, since I never had the chance to do it.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.