Football legend Lionel Messi has revealed his heartfelt wish to return to FC Barcelona one day to bid a proper farewell to the club and its supporters. The 38-year-old Argentine maestro made this emotional declaration after visiting the renovated Camp Nou stadium, a place he called home for most of his glittering career.
Emotional Return to Camp Nou
Messi, who left Barcelona in 2021 due to the club's financial difficulties, shared his feelings through an Instagram post on Monday. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner wrote about visiting "a place I deeply miss" where he experienced immense happiness throughout his career.
"I hope one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I was never able to do," Messi stated, referring to his abrupt departure from the Catalan club when he joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Inter Miami two years later.
Messi Shines in MLS Play-off Victory
Meanwhile, Messi continues to demonstrate his world-class abilities with Inter Miami, where he recently delivered an outstanding performance to secure his team's advancement in the MLS Cup play-offs. On Saturday, Messi scored twice and provided two assists in a crucial match that saw Inter Miami win the best-of-three Eastern Conference first round series 2-1.
The Argentine superstar opened the scoring in the 10th minute and added another goal in the 39th minute. He then set up compatriot Allende for goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes, effectively sealing Miami's triumph and booking a second round match against FC Cincinnati.
Coach Mascherano Praises Messi's Leadership
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano was full of praise for his star player's exceptional performance. "I want to congratulate Leo for the game he played," Mascherano said. "He was the first one who guided us in high pressure. To see him press like that at 38 years old is crazy."
The coach emphasized that while everyone recognizes Messi's brilliance with the ball, his defensive work rate without the ball was particularly impressive. Mascherano described the team's performance as "almost perfect" and expressed relief at avoiding another early play-off exit after previous disappointments against Atlanta and New York City.
Inter Miami will now face FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Mascherano anticipating a "very tough" encounter. The match promises to be a thrilling contest as Miami seeks to continue their MLS Cup play-off journey with Messi leading the charge.
