Barcelona President Laporta Confirms Plans for Lionel Messi Statue at Camp Nou

FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club is working on plans to erect a statue in honour of legendary former captain Lionel Messi at the Spotify Camp Nou, marking a historic tribute to the greatest player in the club’s history.

Laporta made the announcement during the presentation of the book “Jo vaig viure a La Masia” by journalist Xavi Torres, where he addressed the audience about Messi’s enduring legacy and unbreakable bond with Barça.

“Messi will always be linked to Barça. He knows that the doors are open to him. We have absolute respect for him, and he deserves the best tribute from this club,” Laporta said, as reported by SPORT.

Continuing, the president added:

“He should have a statue at the Spotify Camp Nou, just like Cruyff and Kubala. He is one of those iconic players who have left an everlasting mark on this club.
We have already discussed it in a meeting and are working on it. The family must agree, and I am sure all Barça fans would want it.”

The announcement follows Messi’s recent surprise visit to the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou, where the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shared photos from inside the stadium. During the visit, he also gave an interview reflecting on his emotional exit from Barcelona in 2021 and his desire to return to both the club and the city in the future.

Relations between Laporta and Messi’s camp have reportedly been strained since the Argentine’s departure, with speculation suggesting that Messi could even lend his support to an opposing candidate in the forthcoming Barcelona presidential elections.

Nevertheless, Laporta has insisted that all is well between both parties and recently stated that he has no regrets about how Messi’s departure was handled at the time.

Talks of a lasting tribute to the Argentine maestro have been ongoing for months, and the prospect of a statue at the Spotify Camp Nou would serve as a fitting and well-deserved honour for the player widely regarded as the greatest of all time.