Lionel Messi could get Barcelona wish and take on Cristiano Ronaldo once again
Lionel Messi might finally get the send off that he deserves with a return to Barcelona in a one-off game.
The Argentine international has been rumoured to be having a farewell game once the renovated Camp Nou stadium is finished - and he could do so against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi spent over 20 years at Camp Nou, moving to the Spanish city from Argentina as a 13-year-old before blossoming from the La Masia Academy into one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
He would go on to break almost every record possible to him during his incredible time with the team before choosing to move on in 2021 when he joined Paris Saint-Germain.
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It was a move that Messi reportedly did not want to make, but was essentially forced into doing so with the club in dire straits amid serious financial issues.
That meant Messi was not able to have a proper send off in front of the Barcelona fans before leaving the team, and a game in his honour against an all-star team has long been rumoured.
Messi is reportedly set to be joined by Barcelona legends who he has played with through the years, including Ronaldinho, David Villa, Rivaldo, Romario and Cesc Fabregas.
And the team are rumoured to play against an all-star team is set to include Messi's great rival Ronaldo, who is expected to feature in the game alongside other legends including Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Bale, David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fernando Torres.
Lionel Messi emotionally left Barcelona in 2021This report comes after Barcelona's sporting director Deco confirmed the plan to bring Messi back for a game in 2024.
He told Lance: "I think there will be a farewell game, but maybe in the new stadium when it’s ready. He will always be the greatest idol in the club’s history. The club had great idols, like Cruyff, and Ronaldo, but he is perhaps the greatest of all.
"He will definitely play a farewell match at Barcelona, but when it will be, we don’t know. He is playing, and hopefully, he will play for more years, because people who love football, those who do, will be happy to see him happy."
Messi could actually line up against Barcelona in the future, with Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas already committing to facilitate a possible friendly game match between Messi's current and former employers.
Mas said: "Messi's departure from Barcelona [in 2021] was not to his liking. He could not say goodbye to his club, which welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted. We will do everything possible in the coming years so that he has the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona."
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The Argentina international, 36, is under contract with Inter Miami for the next two seasons.
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