The relationship between Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Lionel Messi fractured following the Argentine's departure from the Catalan club back in 2021.
Messi, 38, went through a traumatic experience at that time, being pushed to leave the team of his heart due to FC Barcelona's financial difficulties.
The Argentine signed with Paris Saint-Germain, but he has never hidden that his true desire was to remain at Barcelona, where he had spent the last 20 years of his life.
Part of what made this situation more uncomfortable was that Laporta himself had heavily used Messi's image to win the Blaugrana club's presidential elections. In the end, it was all just part of his campaign, but he was unable to retain the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Following this episode, it is an open secret that the relationship between Messi's entourage and Laporta is completely broken. In a recent interview, the current Barcelona president confirmed a run-in he had with the Argentine.
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images
Joan Laporta Drops Bold Lionel Messi Revelation
In statements to Catalunya Radio, Laporta revealed an incident that occurred at the 2023 Ballon d'Or gala in Paris. According to him, he tried to approach and greet the Argentine national team captain, but the gesture was not reciprocated.
"I went to greet him, and he considered that we should not greet each other," he confessed, making it evident that the tension still persists.
Despite this, Laporta insisted and left the door open for future reconciliation. He even maintained that the Argentine deserves recognition worthy of his legacy, similar to what the club already dedicated to figures like Johan Cruyff and Laszlo Kubala. The idea of a statue in the renovated stadium is not new, but the Barca president publicly supported it again.
He also spoke about Messi's recent presence at Spotify Camp Nou, assuring that the club must always allow him access because "it is his home."
The executive explained that he knew of his visit to Barcelona due to commitments with the Argentine national team, but was unaware of any other details.
Meanwhile, Messi has already started the 2026 MLS season, though not in the best way, falling 0-3 to Son Heung-min's LAFC in the season opener.