Overview
- Lionel Messi visited the partially reopened Camp Nou around midnight and posted photos with a message saying he misses the stadium and hopes to return, not just for a goodbye he never had.
- Barcelona acknowledged the visit on social media with "You're always welcome at your home, Leo," underscoring warm public ties despite his 2021 exit.
- Reports differ on how access was arranged, with Barcelona’s version citing security firm Limak seeking permission while Messi’s entourage is quoted as saying no prior contact was made, prompting a club review of the circumstances.
- The stop came less than a day after Messi’s two goals and two assists for Inter Miami in an MLS playoff win and as he traveled to Spain to join Argentina for international duty.
- Camp Nou remains under reconstruction after a recent open training event, and president Joan Laporta has voiced interest in organizing a tribute once the stadium is fully ready, though Messi’s October Inter Miami extension tempers near-term return prospects.