Lionel Messi set to be handed unique honor by Brazil when Flamengo take on Inter Miami in a friendly in 2025: Reports
Lionel Messi will reportedly be honored by Brazil in their Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The event will reportedly take place in 2025 after Messi's Inter Miami faces Brazilian side Flamengo in a friendly game.
At the twilight of his career, Leo Messi is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. The Argentine legend boasts a record eight Ballons d'Or and a record six Golden Boots. The superstar forward has arguably won almost every individual and team honor in football, with a record 46 trophies in his cabinet.
According to journalist Fabricio Chicca (via Tribuna), Brazil is reportedly set to honor Lionel Messi at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in 2025. The Argentine superstar's footprints will be added to the stadium's legendary Walk of Fame, an area dedicated to honoring the greatest footballers of all time.
Messi's footprints will be added alongside legends like Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldo Nazario.
Lionel Messi being honored at the Maracana Stadium is another poetic addition to his illustrious career, having reached two different milestones of his career at the venue. Messi notably lost the 2014 FIFA World Cup final 1-0 to Germany at the Maracana, marking the first of his three consecutive final losses with Argentina.
However, Messi's first international trophy came after a 1-0 victory over Brazil at the same stadium in the 2021 Copa America. The Inter Miami superstar has since won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa America with La Albiceleste.
Lionel Messi set to attend Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations in November 2024: Reports
Catalan journalist Miguel Rico recently reported that Lionel Messi is expected to attend Barcelona's 125th anniversary celebrations. The club will celebrate its completion of 125 years on November 29 at the Liceu Theater in Barcelona.
The club have reportedly been planning the event for a while, with multiple former legends and current players set to attend the gala. The aforementioned report suggests that Messi has been invited to the event.
However, there were doubts about his presence owing to his alleged strained relationship with club president Joan Laporta.
The report further claims that Messi would like to put Barcelona above his personal reservations and is expected to take part in the celebrations this month. A 125th-anniversary anthem will also be heard at the gala for the first time.
Earlier reports also suggested that event manager David Carabén met with some prominent figures in the club's history, including Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard regarding their participation,
Despite the reports, Lionel Messi is currently focusing on the MLS Playoffs with Inter Miami. It remains to be seen if the Argentine legend's schedule allows him to attend the 125th anniversary celebrations this month.