Joan Laporta confirms Lionel Messi Camp Nou tribute plans as estimated completion date revealed

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Lionel Messi could have returned to the club for one final season but ultimately chose a different path.

Speaking during Barcelona’s General Assembly, Laporta was asked about the club’s plans to honour Messi, who left Camp Nou in 2021 after Barcelona were unable to renew his contract because of financial restrictions.

The Argentine forward subsequently spent two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain before becoming a free agent in 2023. Barcelona explored the possibility of bringing their former captain back, but the move never materialised, with Messi eventually joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

While indicating that there was some regret over the way things ended with Messi, Laporta confirmed that the club do still intend to give the Argentinian a major tribute at the renovated Camp Nou.

🚨🔵🔴 Barcelona president Laporta: “We are planning for the Leo Messi tribute once the Spotify Camp Nou is
completed”.

“It will be a beautiful tribute. We hope to complete the stadium by the start of 2028”. pic.twitter.com/U46YEFFm9F

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 20, 2026

Barcelona planning tribute for club legend

Laporta confirmed that club officials had already spoken to Messi about staging a tribute once work on the renovated stadium is complete.

“We told Messi that we would like to hold a tribute for him once the stadium is completed,” he said. “We will hold the tribute for him when the stadium is ready, as long as he wants that.”

Laporta also paid tribute to Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, who died in August aged 68.

“My deepest condolences and remembrance for his father, that exceptional person,” Laporta said, praising Jorge for the role he played in his son’s career.

The renovated Camp Nou is expected to eventually accommodate around 105,000 supporters. Barcelona are targeting the completion of the project by 2028, with the full-capacity stadium potentially providing the setting for a major celebration of Messi’s career at the club.

FGG says: What would be a suitable thank-you?

Considering everything Messi achieved in a Barcelona shirt, it is hard to imagine just what the club could do to properly honour him and his career. While many club legends at different football clubs have been immortalised with statues, it feels as if Messi almost deserves more than that. We can't wait to see what Laporta and co come up with.