“The last dance.” It’s been talked about so much, it’s become a cliche. Tell that to the Catalan press, who want just that for Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona.
A new opinion piece lays out the arguments in favor. The number one is that Messi’s mercurial form at the biggest football tournament that exists proves he’s not finished – far from it. He’s the top scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and looks as good as ever, at least for the opening stages of the tournament.
At the moment, there is no rumor and
no grand plan to bring Messi back. But again, tell that to the Catalan press or to the fans.
There’s the sentimental aspect. His departure from Barça was less than ideal, to say the very least. He did not get a proper goodbye, and was shuffled out at the last second after being promised his contract would be renewed. There’s essentially no cule who doesn’t see at least the appeal of a return for Barcelona’s best player ever.
The counterargument if there was any, was that perhaps Messi was no longer at an elite level having left to play for Inter Miami in MLS. That counterargument is getting exposed, many now argue, by Messi’s level in the World Cup.
Then there’s the money aspect. Could Barcelona pay for it? Supporters of the move say it’s not just feasible, but very beneficial. His salary would be high, of course, but his return would generate crazy hype. And with that hype, lots of commercial opportunities.
So, Messi to Barcelona, one last dance, with the boy he once washed as a baby – Lamine Yamal – alongside. Who could possibly say no? Well, Messi may not be so keen. His relationship with club president Joan Laporta has been damaged in a major way after the way his departure was handled. The superstar is happy in Miami and may not be in any hurry to divide his attention from a club he’s poised to become part owner of after retirement. His love for Barcelona is unquestioned, but it may not be enough to pull him away now that he’s left Europe.
And then there’s Laporta. Who knows if the president, who is in a strong position, wants to take the risk on a player who’s more popular than him and who isn’t his biggest fan. He has made some peaceful overtures toward Messi, suggesting his ego is not so big as to completely rebuff the Argentine. Would he actually pull it off this time, having failed both to extend Messi’s contract and then sign him again after he left Paris Saint-Germain?
