Lionel Messi Teases Return to Barcelona 'Not Just to Say Goodbye' amid Viral Photo

Lionel Messi knows he's in the twilight of his legendary career, but before it's over, he's hoping to return to where it all began.

Messi took to social media to share viral photos of his return to Spotify Camp Nou in Spain, and he teased a return to Barcelona in his caption.

"Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart," Messi wrote, per ESPN's Sam Marsden. "It's a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do…"

Messi began his competitive career with Barcelona at the age of 17 in 2004 and remained with the club until 2021. He led Barcelona to ten La Liga titles and four Champions League titles among his club-record 34 trophies, and he became the club's all-time leading goal scorer with 672 in 778 appearances.

Unfortunately, Barcelona experienced some financial troubles in 2021 that caused Messi to sign with French club Paris Saint-Germain that August. He spent two years with the club and won back-to-back Ligue 1 titles before signing with Inter Miami of the MLS in July 2023.

Camp Nou has been closed for redevelopment since 2023, but Barcelona club president Joan Laporta previously expressed interest in bringing back Messi for a tribute game to usher in the new stadium.

"It would be a great way to open the stadium [when it's completely finished], with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo," Laporta told reporters after an open training session in front of 23,000 fans at Camp Nou last week. "Always, of course, depending on what [the Messi camp] wants. There are also presidential elections before then, but in the case I am still president, I would love that."

Messi recently led Inter Miami to the Eastern semifinal of the MLS playoffs and was visiting Spain to join up with the Argentina national team ahead of Friday's friendly against Angola in preparation for next summer's World Cup. He has never previously expressed interest in a tribute game for Barcelona, and the Camp Nou renovations are not expected to be done until 2027.

However, it sounds like the door is open for the 38-year-old to end his legendary career with Barcelona is he so chooses.