Messi returns to Camp Nou, leaving an appointment with Barcelona
Messi visited Camp Nou overnight, after scoring twice in Inter Miami's 4-0 win over Nashville, surprising Barcelona. He wrote "hopefully one day I'll be back". Barca are planning a testimonial when the stadium is completed in 2027.
In the silence of Barcelona, Lionel Messi suddenly appeared at Camp Nou – a construction site covered with scaffolding and cranes. No Barcelona officials were informed. The next morning, he posted on Instagram: “Last night I returned to a place I miss with all my heart… I hope to return one day, not just to say goodbye.”
Moments in the Night and Symbolic Weight
It was more than just a stopover. For Barcelona, the sight of Messi returning amid the steelwork of the rebuilding was reminiscent of that 2021 press conference – the day he left the club in tears due to financial difficulties. He had felt betrayed by President Joan Laporta, and despite returning to the city many times, this was the first time Messi had set foot in the Camp Nou – a place where he never had a proper farewell.
After the photos went viral, Barcelona announced that Messi had been allowed in by Limak, the construction company. It’s unclear who opened the door, but the surprise made the moment feel real, in keeping with his usual style: simple, few words, and full of emotion.
From MLS double to Camp Nou stop
The visit came just hours after Messi scored twice in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Nashville in the Major League Soccer playoffs. From the United States, he flew to Spain to join up with Argentina in Alicante. Instead of going straight, Messi turned to Barcelona – the city he has lived in for more than two decades – to see firsthand the progress of the reconstruction of the stadium where he scored 672 goals in 778 games.
The message of “hope returns” and speculations
The short Instagram post immediately fueled speculation. The relationship between Messi and the current board remains cold. In 2023, Barcelona negotiated to bring him back after he left PSG, but Messi ultimately chose Inter Miami because he did not want to repeat the financial crisis of 2021. He also affirmed that if he returned to Europe, the only destination would be Barcelona.
According to a source close to the matter, the visit was brief and private, to see the progress of the stadium – not a political move. Some have suggested that the post may have implications in the context of next year's Barcelona presidential election, with Laporta aiming for a second term against Victor Font. However, the source insists Messi has no intention of getting involved.
Tribute day and timeframe of new Camp Nou
As for Barcelona, Laporta said the club plans to hold a testimonial match for Messi when Camp Nou is completed. The renovation project is scheduled to be completed in 2027, with a capacity of 105,000; the stadium currently has only the lower stands completed. Standing in the middle of the construction site, Messi probably imagined the wait before he could return in an official sense.
Messi and his preparation for life after football
At 38, Messi has spoken about his future off the pitch. Last week, at the America Business Forum in Miami with Donald Trump, he shared that he was learning more about business, admitting that he didn’t know much but wanted to train for the future. That reflection covered his return to Camp Nou: a look back at the place that created it all, and a promise for a proper meeting.
The thread is not closed yet
Between the present at Inter Miami and a Camp Nou in transformation, Messi’s image on the night carries more weight than any statement: the story between him and Barcelona is never over. When the stadium is completed and the day of gratitude arrives, it may no longer be a title conquest, but a rite of passage – complete and worthy of a legend.