Barcelona Plans Messi Statue Outside Camp Nou

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed the club's plans to erect a statue of Argentine star Lionel Messi outside the Spotify Camp Nou stadium, honoring his exceptional career with the team. Laporta explained that the board of directors discussed the idea during an official meeting, affirming that Messi will always be linked to the club and that the door remains open for him in the future.

The announcement follows Messi's recent visit to the stadium on Sunday, his first tour since leaving Barcelona in 2021. The 38-year-old player expressed on his Instagram account his hope of returning one day, not just to bid farewell to the club as a player, but perhaps for a greater future with the team.

During his 21 years with Barcelona, since joining the club's academy at age 13, Messi scored 672 goals in 778 matches. He led the team to win La Liga ten times, the UEFA Champions League four times, and three FIFA Club World Cups.

Laporta indicated that the statue would hold symbolic significance equal to that of legends like Johan Cruyff and László Kubala, with the caveat that Messi's family must approve before its implementation.