In a heartfelt announcement that has excited football fans worldwide, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed the club's plans to honor legendary footballer Lionel Messi with a permanent statue outside their iconic Camp Nou stadium. This monumental tribute recognizes Messi's extraordinary contributions to the club where he spent 21 glorious years.
Laporta's Vision for Messi Tribute
During Friday's presentation of a book about Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, President Joan Laporta openly shared his vision for properly honoring the club's greatest-ever player. "Messi deserves the tribute at Can Barça, the most beautiful in the world," Laporta declared with evident emotion.
The Barcelona president emphasized that the club is actively progressing with this significant project. "We are working on it; the family has to agree. When the time is right and we have the design, we'll bring it up," he explained, indicating that discussions are already underway with Messi's representatives.
Laporta made a compelling case for why Messi deserves this permanent recognition alongside other club legends. "If Kubala and Cruyff also have statues outside the Camp Nou, I think it would be only fair for Leo to have his own. He's one of those iconic players who have defined an era for all of us," he stated, placing Messi in the pantheon of Barcelona's all-time greats.
Messi's Emotional Barcelona Connection
The timing of Laporta's announcement follows Messi's surprise visit to Camp Nou on Sunday, just before joining the Argentina national team in Spain. The 38-year-old football icon shared photos from his visit on social media with a heartfelt caption that resonated deeply with fans: he hoped to "return for the goodbye I never got to say as a player."
Messi's tearful departure from Barcelona in August 2021 remains one of the most emotional moments in modern football history. Forced to leave as a free agent due to the club's severe financial crisis, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner was unable to bid a proper farewell to fans because of COVID-19 restrictions, leaving his exit feeling incomplete for both the player and supporters.
During his remarkable 21-year tenure at Barcelona, Messi achieved unprecedented success, becoming the club's all-time leading appearance maker and goal scorer while lifting a record 34 trophies, including 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns.
Healing Past Wounds and Celebrating Legacy
Relations between Messi and Laporta had significantly cooled following the painful 2021 exit, with the Argentine forward later admitting he "didn't leave Barça as he had dreamed of." However, recent developments suggest that bridges are being rebuilt between the club and its prodigal son.
After playing for Paris Saint-Germain and currently with Inter Miami, where he recently extended his contract until 2028, Messi appears increasingly open to reconnecting with the club that shaped his extraordinary career from a young age.
For Barcelona supporters across India and worldwide, a statue honoring their greatest-ever player would finally provide the celebration many felt was cruelly denied four years ago. As Laporta perfectly captured the sentiment of millions: "All Barcelona fans would love to have a statue of Leo Messi where the great figures in Barça's history are."
