The Argentine star and Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi, is arguably the best football player in the world we have ever witnessed. He has now completed football after his conquest of the prestigious World Cup in 2022. Even at the dawn of his career, the Argentine talisman is still breaking ankles and passing swiftly through the defenders, leaving them on the floor.
The La Masia graduate made history after becoming the first player ever to win the coveted Ballon d’Or trophy for the eighth time. Surprisingly, despite having a tearful yet controversial separation with Barcelona, his eighth Ballon d’Or trophy has found its way to the Blaugranes museum.
Lionel Messi donated his 8th Ballon d’Or to Barca museum: Why?
After winning the Ballon d’Or at Inter Miami, Messi decided to donate his 8th Ballon d’Or to the Barcelona Museum. According to Onefootball, on Monday, Lionel Messi donated his Ballon d’Or to Barcelona despite being an Inter-Miami player. Messi is a club legend for Barcelona and this gesture truly shows his love for the club.
As per reports, Messi didn’t want the seven Ballon d’Or to be incomplete and he wished that the eighth Ballon d’Or be kept alongside the other seven in the Barcelona Museum.
Leo Messi ha donado su octavo Balón de Oro al museo del Barça. A pesar de que no lo ganó como futbolista azulgrana, el astro argentino ha tenido el gesto de cederlo para que sea expuesto junto a los otros siete que ha ganado. Imposible no echarle de menos. #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/iF5gogVN94
— Miquel Blázquez (@BlazquezFont) February 19, 2024
The now-36-year-old won six of his eight Ballon d’Or titles during his stint at FC Barcelona. His seventh came just a short while after making the switch to Paris Saint-Germain; nonetheless, it made its way to the Barca museum as well.
Is Lionel Messi going to retire at Barcelona?
Messi signed for Inter Miami in 2023 from PSG and had agreed to a contract reportedly worth $150 million over two and a half years. Though he has now reunited with his ex-Barcelona teammates, there are rumors going on that he might leave Inter Miami in 2025 and go back to Barcelona and retire at that club.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Messi dropped hints of his return to Barcelona. He said, “I could have gone back to Barcelona, but it wasn’t like that. It was something similar to what happened in 2021. It was very similar to having go to Paris in 2021.”
There is no doubt that fans want to see Messi have one last dance in the Barcelona jersey. Are you among them? Or do you think Messi should move on from Barca? Tell us in the comments section.
