Messi’s emotional, surprise return to Spotify Camp Nou

SHORTLY following FC Barcelona’s long-awaited return to the Spotify Camp Nou stadium, which recently reopened amid a €1.5 billion refurbishment, football superstar and former Barça player Lionel Messi made a surprise return back home. On the evening of Sunday, November 9, Messi went back to tour the Camp Nou stadium, and shared some images of his return the next day on social media, warming the hearts of FC Barcelona fans all over the world.

Messi’s private moment back in his home stadium

With little fanfare, no cameras, and no one privy to Messi’s presence in the Les Corts neighbourhood of Barcelona, the uber-famous footballer returned to the tranquil stadium in the night. Wrote Messi on his Instagram post the next day, “Last night I returned to a place that I miss with all my soul. A place where I was immensely happy, where you all made me feel like the happiest person on Earth thousands of times. Hopefully one day I can return, and not only to say goodbye as a player, as I was not able to do…”

Rising to greatness at Barça … and a heartbreaking departure

The 38-year-old Argentinian player made his official competitive debut at Barcelona at just 17 years old, in the year 2004. He played for the team for 17 years until his abrupt departure in 2021, reportedly due to financial restrictions on the club despite Messi agreeing to take an enormous pay cut (50 per cent). Though Messi desperately wanted to stay at his club, Then and current President of the club, Joan Laporta, stated that though he loved Messi, he couldn’t put the club at risk only to keep him.

“I can’t make a decision that will affect the club for 50 years,” Laporta had said. “The club is over 100 years old and it’s above everyone and everything, even above the best player of the world. We will always thank him for everything he’s done for us.”

Thus, Leo Messi was unable to say a proper goodbye to his beloved team or its fans, in part due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time Messi was at Camp Nou was on May 16, 2021, during a LaLiga tournament game against Celta de Vigo. A few days later, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. His relationship with Joan Laporta has reportedly been rocky ever since.

Shortly following Messi’s heartbreaking departure, the Spotify Camp Nou stadium was closed for a major refurbishment, and the team had been playing instead at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys during the works, for two years.

The Spotify Camp Nou stadium, back and better than ever

The Spotify Camp Nou stadium officially reopened on the morning of Friday, November 7, when feverish Barça fanatics were allowed to watch a practice session in the newly renovated – if yet unfinished – home stadium. The practice session, which was also held in part to test out the infrastructure of the stadium, sold out in a matter of days, treating nearly 22,000 fans to the session.

An olive branch for Barcelona’s greatest star

President Joan Laporta had recently expressed wishes for Messi to visit the stadium again, though Messi did not meet with him or any of his former colleagues on this occasion. Laporta expressed hope for the stadium to host a farewell party for Messi once it is officially completed and able to fully accommodate its capacity of 105,000 people.

Messi was – and is – FC Barcelona’s all-time top scorer, with an eye-watering 672 goals in all competitions. He is considered one of the all-time greatest players in the entire sport of football, with the most major trophies ever won and a record of eight Ballon d’Ors, arguably the most prestigious award in the sport.

Leo Messi currently plays for Inter Miami in the United States, and will play with the team through to the end of the 2028 MLS season.

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