Lionel Messi‘s legacy as one of many biggest gamers in soccer historical past was largely solid at FC Barcelona, the place followers proceed to carry him in excessive regard regardless of his abrupt departure. With a tribute match nonetheless pending, membership president Joan Laporta has now provided contemporary perception into the concept of erecting a statue in honor of the Argentine icon.
With the Argentina nationwide staff coaching in Spain, Messi took the chance to go to the revamped Camp Nou with out notifying Barcelona officers. Although his relationship with the present board has cooled, the Inter Miami star overtly reiterated his want to return to the membership after his farewell match, a remark that reignited hypothesis a few future reunion.
Laporta attended the e book presentation of journalist Xavi Torres, “Jo vaig viure a la Masia,” and when requested about Messi’s future on the membership, he was unequivocal: “I’m positive that Messi will stay linked to Barca. When he finishes his skilled profession at Inter Miami, I don’t know what he’ll do, however he is aware of that Barca’s doorways are open to him. I stated it the opposite day — now we have absolute respect and admiration for him, and he deserves from Barca essentially the most lovely tribute on this planet.”
The president then made a daring declare about the kind of tribute Messi deserves. “Within the board of administrators, along with my colleagues, we all the time assume that one thing extra ought to be performed for Messi,” he acknowledged. “He ought to have a statue on the Spotify Camp Nou. If (Ladislao) Kubala has one, and (Johan) Cruyff has one, then it will solely be honest for Leo to have his personal statue as nicely. He’s a kind of iconic gamers who’ve left a mark on all of us,” he added.
Johan Cruyff statue outdoors Camp Nou stadium.
Requested by Torres whether or not the undertaking is actually underway, Laporta didn’t hesitate: “We’re engaged on it — clearly, his household should agree. When the time comes and now we have the design for the statue, we’ll current it to him. We’d love that, as Barça followers. I imagine each Barcelona supporter can be thrilled to have a statue of Leo Messi alongside the good figures within the membership’s historical past.”
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In current months, Laporta has acknowledged that the connection with Messi suffered after his sudden 2021 exit. Whereas Messi has but to publicly deal with the matter, Laporta seems desirous to rebuild the connection, particularly with a presidential election 12 months looming in 2026.
Messi to affix two Barcelona legends
FC Barcelona has produced quite a few icons within the twenty first century, from Carles Puyol and Andrés Iniesta to Xavi Hernández and even Luis Suárez, the membership’s third all-time main scorer. But amongst that distinguished group, Messi stands alone, and now seems set to affix two legendary figures who’ve already been immortalized with statues.
The primary was Ladislao Kubala, whose influence on the membership within the postwar period of the Fifties made him an everlasting image of Barca’s historical past. His statue was unveiled on September 24, 2009, throughout Laporta’s first tenure as president.
A decade later, in 2019, Johan Cruyff acquired his personal statue following his demise in 2016. Honoring the Dutchman who formed Barcelona’s identification as each a participant and a coach, the statue was inaugurated underneath former president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
