A former president of Barça hits Lionel Messi

At 39, Lionel Messi has just said goodbye to the Argentine selection with great fanfare. An XXL tribute that FC

By Manu Tournoux · French Football Weekly

Published: Monday, 12 October 2026 at 5:13 PM

Key Things to Know

Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart criticized Lionel Messi for refusing to return to the club to say goodbye.
Messi reportedly refuses to visit FC Barcelona while Joan Laporta remains the club's president.
Gaspart argued that Barcelona comes before any individual and helped make Messi the player he became.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former FC Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has publicly criticized Lionel Messi for refusing to return to the club to bid farewell to fans. Messi reportedly refuses to visit Barcelona as long as current president Joan Laporta remains in office, following his departure from the team in 2021.

Gaspart stated in comments relayed by Sport that Barcelona comes before any individual, reminding the Argentine star that the club helped make him a great player. He urged Messi to put aside his grievances and return to say goodbye to supporters regardless of who holds the presidency.

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A former president of Barça hits Lionel Messi

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