Barcelona president Joan Laporta has officially confirmed that the club is working on plans to erect a statue of Lionel Messi outside the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, marking a significant step toward honoring the greatest player in the club’s illustrious history. Speaking at the presentation of a book about La Masia on November 13, 2025, Laporta revealed that the tribute is moving from internal discussion to concrete execution, pending approval from the Messi family. The announcement comes just days after Messi’s emotional surprise visit to the revamped stadium, reigniting conversations about his legacy and future relationship with the Catalan giants.
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Laporta’s Vision: Placing Messi Among Barcelona’s Immortals
Joan Laporta’s statement left no doubt about Barcelona’s intentions to immortalize their record goalscorer alongside the club’s other legendary figures. The Barcelona president explained that Messi deserves to stand beside Johan Cruyff and Ladislao Kubala, whose statues already grace the exterior of Camp Nou, forming a lineage of iconic players who shaped the club’s identity.
“Leo Messi deserves to have a statue at the new stadium,” Laporta declared during the book presentation. “We will prepare a design, talk to the family and if they agree we can proceed for that. If Kubala and Cruyff also have statues outside the Camp Nou, I think it would be only fair for Leo to have his own.”
Existing Statues at Camp Nou
| Player | Era | Key Achievement | Statue Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladislao Kubala | 1950s | Barcelona’s first superstar | Outside Camp Nou |
| Johan Cruyff | 1970s-1990s | Total Football architect, 4 European Cups as manager | Outside Camp Nou |
| Lionel Messi | 2004-2021 | 672 goals, 34 trophies, greatest player in history | Planned |
Laporta emphasized that the board believes Barcelona should offer something “beautiful” and lasting to place Messi within this historical lineage. The club has already held internal meetings to discuss the tribute, with consensus among directors that the Argentine icon rightfully belongs among these immortalized legends.
The Process: Family Approval Required
Unlike typical club decisions, the Messi statue project requires a delicate diplomatic approach involving the player’s family. Laporta stressed that Barcelona will prepare a comprehensive design before formally presenting the proposal to ensure the family feels comfortable with how the tribute will honor Messi’s legacy.
“We’re working on it; the family has to agree,” Laporta explained. “When the time is right and we have the design, we’ll bring it up. We, as Barça fans, would love the fact of having a statue to honor Lionel Messi in the new stadium, where all Barça legends lay.”
This consultation process reflects the complex relationship between Messi and Barcelona following his controversial departure in 2021. The club’s sensitivity to family approval suggests an attempt to rebuild bridges and ensure the tribute is received as genuine recognition rather than a political gesture.
Messi’s Emotional Camp Nou Return
The statue announcement gained urgency following Messi’s surprise visit to the renovated Camp Nou on November 10, 2025. The 38-year-old Argentine arrived quietly without informing Barcelona’s hierarchy, touring the construction site before joining Argentina’s training camp in Spain. His Instagram post afterward captured the emotional weight of returning to the stadium he called home for over two decades.
“Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart, a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world,” Messi wrote. “I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
Barcelona responded warmly to Messi’s post, stating that he would always be welcome at the club. The exchange ignited speculation about a future reunion, even if symbolic rather than as an active player. Laporta acknowledged the significance of the visit, calling it “spontaneous” and evidence of Messi’s unbroken emotional bond with the club.
Lionel Messi’s Unparalleled Barcelona Legacy
The rationale for honoring Messi with a statue becomes immediately apparent when examining his extraordinary achievements during 21 years wearing the Blaugrana jersey. No player in Barcelona’s history—spanning over 125 years—has contributed more to the club’s success than the Argentine maestro.
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona Career Statistics
| Category | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 778 matches |
| Goals Scored | 672 goals |
| Trophies Won | 34 titles |
| La Liga Titles | 10 championships |
| Champions League | 4 European crowns |
| Club World Cups | 3 global titles |
| Ballon d’Or Awards | 4 won while at Barcelona |
| Years at Club | 21 seasons (2004-2021) |
Messi joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy at age 13, developing through the youth ranks before making his first-team debut in 2004. Over the next 17 years as a senior player, he transformed from a promising teenager into arguably the greatest footballer in history, breaking virtually every club record imaginable.
His 672 goals make him Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer by a considerable margin. He also holds the record for most appearances in club history, most assists, most hat-tricks, and most trophies won. These numbers, while staggering, only partially capture his impact—Messi’s style of play, creativity, and ability to decide matches in impossible situations elevated Barcelona to unprecedented heights.
The Painful 2021 Departure
Understanding the statue’s significance requires acknowledging the circumstances surrounding Messi’s exit from Barcelona in summer 2021. Financial mismanagement at the club, exacerbated by LaLiga’s strict salary cap rules, made it impossible for Barcelona to register Messi’s new contract despite both parties reaching an agreement.
The departure stunned the football world. Messi held an emotional press conference where he broke down in tears, admitting he didn’t leave as he had dreamed. COVID-19 restrictions prevented a proper farewell ceremony with fans at Camp Nou, denying both Messi and supporters the closure they deserved after two decades together.
Messi’s relationship with Laporta reportedly cooled following the departure, with people close to the footballer suggesting that contact between them remains minimal. The president faced criticism for failing to deliver on his 2021 campaign promise to keep Messi at the club, a broken commitment that still resonates among Barcelona fans.
Political Context: 2026 Elections Looming
The timing of the statue announcement carries political implications that cannot be ignored. Barcelona will hold presidential elections in 2026, and Laporta is expected to seek a second consecutive term. Any gesture toward Messi—whose symbolic weight among Catalans remains enormous—inevitably carries strategic value.
Víctor Font, one of Laporta’s main challengers in the upcoming election, maintains ongoing contact with Messi, positioning himself as someone who could facilitate the player’s return to Barcelona in some capacity. The statue proposal, while undoubtedly deserved, also serves Laporta’s electoral interests by demonstrating his commitment to honoring club legends.
Critics view the statue plan as a calculated move to appeal to Barcelona’s fanbase ahead of the election. Supporters counter that Messi’s contributions merit the tribute regardless of political timing, and that perpetually delaying recognition due to electoral cycles would be equally cynical.
The New Camp Nou: A Modern Home for Legends
The backdrop for this tribute is Barcelona’s ambitious stadium renovation project. The Spotify Camp Nou, closed for nearly 900 days for extensive remodeling, partially reopened with an open training session on November 11 that attracted over 21,000 fans. The venue is set to fully reopen in phases throughout 2026.
The renovated stadium will feature expanded capacity, modernized facilities, and enhanced fan experiences while maintaining the iconic status that made Camp Nou one of football’s most legendary venues. Placing statues of Kubala, Cruyff, and Messi outside the refurbished stadium creates a physical timeline of Barcelona’s greatest eras, with each figure representing a transformative period in club history.
What Happens Next?
Barcelona will now embark on designing the statue, a process that requires careful consideration of how to capture Messi’s essence in bronze or stone. Will the statue depict his iconic goal celebration with arms raised? His famous dribbling stance? A contemplative pose reflecting his humble personality? These artistic decisions must resonate with both the Messi family and Barcelona’s global fanbase.
Once the design is finalized, Barcelona will formally present the proposal to Messi’s family for approval. If they agree, construction and installation would follow, with speculation suggesting an unveiling ceremony could coincide with a formal farewell event for Messi sometime in 2026.
Laporta previously indicated that Barcelona hopes to host “the most beautiful tribute in the world” for Messi once the Camp Nou renovations are complete. Such an event could potentially see Messi return to play a ceremonial match, address fans who never got to properly say goodbye, and witness the unveiling of his statue—finally providing the closure both parties were denied in 2021.
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FAQs
When will the Lionel Messi statue be built at Barcelona?
The timeline depends on family approval of the final design. Barcelona is currently working on the statue design and will present it to the Messi family for approval before proceeding with construction. An unveiling could potentially occur in 2026.
Where will Messi’s statue be placed at Camp Nou?
The statue will be erected outside the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, joining existing tributes to Ladislao Kubala and Johan Cruyff. The exact location hasn’t been specified but will be in the stadium’s exterior area.
Why did Lionel Messi leave Barcelona in 2021?
Messi left due to Barcelona’s financial crisis and LaLiga salary cap restrictions. Despite reaching an agreement on a new contract, the club couldn’t register him within financial fair play rules, forcing his departure to PSG.
Will Lionel Messi return to play for Barcelona?
Laporta has ruled out a playing return, calling it “unrealistic” given Messi’s contract with Inter Miami through 2028. However, Messi has expressed desire to return to Barcelona in a non-playing capacity for a proper farewell.
How many trophies did Messi win with Barcelona?
Messi won 34 trophies during his 21 years at Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles, 4 Champions League crowns, 3 Club World Cups, 7 Copa del Rey titles, and numerous other honors.
