Lionel Messi posts message for Barcelona as the club celebrates 125th anniversary
Lionel Messi has sent a message to Barcelona on the club's 125th anniversary. The Catalans celebrated the special occasion on Friday (November 29) but the Argentine icon couldn't attend due to prior commitments.
However, La Pulga took to social media to send a special message to his former club. Lionel Messi shared 13 pictures from his time with Barcelona, showcasing many memorable moments and referred to the club as the best in the world. He wrote on his Instagram:
"Happy 125th Anniversary to the best Club in the World."
The Argentine legend rose through the ranks at Camp Nou and became one of the greatest players in the history of football. His impact on Barcelona is unmatched, with the player winning 35 trophies at the club. He registered 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 games for Barca.
However, La Pulga was forced to leave the Catalans in the summer of 2021 after the club failed to renew his contract. The LaLiga giants were under economic difficulties and couldn't afford to tie Lionel Messi down to a new deal.
As such, the player had to leave Camp Nou and embark on a new adventure. He joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) that year and spent two seasons in Ligue 1. He left the Parisians in the summer of 2023 to join MLS side Inter Miami, where he currently plies his trade.
Why did Lionel Messi miss Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebration?
According to The Athletic, Lionel Messi did receive an invite to attend Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations. With Inter Miami no longer in the MLS Cup playoffs, the player was expected to be present at the Gran Teatre del Liceu on Friday.
However, the Argentine icon was clear that he wouldn't be able to make it to the gala. The reason was his prior commitments with commercial partners, which coincided with the event.
However, it is also believed that the player's strained relationship with the Catalans hierarchy, especially president Joan Laporta, could be a factor behind his snub. When the LaLiga giants informed Messi that they couldn't hand him a new deal in 2021, he had apparently agreed to a 50% pay cut.
However, Laporta reportedly told the player and his father that this wasn't possible and asked them to look for a new club. This infuriated La Pulga and it is evident that the bridge hasn't been mended yet.