Messi to receive Barcelona farewell at Camp Nou within a year and a half, says Toni Freixa
Lionel Messi will receive a Barcelona farewell ceremony at the Camp Nou within a year and a half, former Barcelona board member Toni Freixa said, a development reported after the forward’s international farewell with Argentina in October 2026.
Messi’s Argentina farewell came in October 2026 against Benin, a match billed as his final international appearance in which he scored one goal and provided two assists and was honoured with an on-field ceremony and drone shows. He retired from international football as Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 126 goals in 208 appearances and after leading the nation to two Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. At club level, Messi spent 21 years with Barcelona after joining La Masia at 13, including 17 seasons with the first team, compiling 778 appearances, 672 goals and 303 assists.
Despite those figures and his status among fans, Messi has not yet received a comparable send-off from Barcelona. His exit from the club in 2021 occurred amid acrimonious circumstances: he was told a contract extension was not possible because of the club’s terrible financial condition, then announced his decision to leave at a tearful end-of-season press conference and later joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in August. Supporters have repeatedly called for a proper farewell for the forward, and plans for such an event have been delayed several times.
Toni Freixa, identified in reports as a former Barcelona board member, said the club will stage a ceremony for Messi at Camp Nou within 18 months. “Within a year and a half, there will be a Barcelona farewell ceremony for Leo Messi at the Camp Nou,” Freixa said. “This is something that is confirmed.”
Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has also spoken publicly about a possible Barca send-off for Messi, while urging the player to avoid letting personal disputes interfere with any farewell. “Leo is an undeniable footballer, the best in the world, and a great player. There is only one thing he must not forget: Barcelona is bigger than him, and he should be careful, he should be careful,” Gaspart said. “I say this out of the historical love I have for a player I signed when he was 13 and I was Barca president: he should be careful. Barca is bigger than him as an individual.” “He is a great player, the best in the world, partly … thanks to Barca. Therefore, he cannot forget that. Because of that, I’m still giving him a grace period, but a day will come when it will start to bother me if Mr Messi puts even the slightest obstacle in the way of coming to Barca to say goodbye to the fans.”
Reports say the relationship between Messi and club president Joan Laporta has been strained since the contract-extension episode, and Laporta had previously promised a farewell once Camp Nou was redeveloped.
Freixa’s statement sets a concrete timeline: a Barcelona farewell ceremony at Camp Nou is expected within a year and a half, and Gaspart has urged Messi to resolve any issues with club leadership so a send-off can proceed.