The one thing left on Lionel Messi’s bucket list

Now aged 37, there is very little that Lionel Messi hasn’t done in his glittering career. An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi has won 12 league titles, four Champions League, two Copa Americas and, the crowning glory, the World Cup in 2022.

Since moving to the United States he has added two more trophies to take his all-time tally to 45, making him the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. However there is still one thing left on his sporting bucket list.

Messi spent 21 years with Barcelona and has already indicated his desire to move back to the city after finishing his playing career. Now, reports in Argentina suggest that he could be back even sooner.

Journalist Alex Candal told DSports that Messi wants to play at Barcelona’s newly redeveloped stadium before retiring: “I can’t leave football without playing at the new Camp Nou.”

When will Lionel Messi return to Barcelona?

During his time with the Blaugrana, Messi lit up the Camp Nou for 17 glorious seasons. The Argentine is the club’s all-time record appearance maker and top scorer, having played 778 times for Barca.

But the Camp Nou that Messi left is no more, after the club embarked on a massive stadium renovation project after the conclusion of the 2022/23 season. The club had hoped to return after a year but they are still, due to significant delays, playing at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The works are set to be completed by June 2026, with the total cost of the project currently standing at $984 million.

Although it won’t be fully completed, the club hopes to be back at Camp Nou later this year, with the club planning to return for the 2025/26 season.

As for Messi’s return, there appears little chance of him re-signing for the team so a final Camp Nou appearance would likely take place in a friendly game between Barcelona and Inter Miami, or perhaps the Argentina national team. However Messi’s Inter Miami are involved in the Club World Cup this summer and MLS' calendar year schedule means that it is difficult to find the time.

One option could be a friendly game in early 2026. LaLiga teams have a winter break that usually covers the first ten days of January, the point at which MLS teams will be returning for preseason training. Barcelona have not yet commented on the possibility of welcoming Messi back for a one-off game but would surely jump at the chance to give their greatest-ever player a proper send-off.

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