Messi to rejoin Barcelona at the age of THIRTY NINE

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 Mar 2025 13:22 GMT
• 3 min read

News

Barcelona have decided to bring back Lionel Messi to the club - but it will not be this summer.

Messi has continually been linked with a stunning return to the Blaugrana in recent months.

It had initially been believed that the return would take place this summer after the conclusion of the Club World Cup.

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But TNT Sports reports that Messi will in fact likely rejoin Barcelona - as a player - after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.

Barcelona plan to bring Messi back for the grand re-opening of Camp Nou.

Then stadium redevelopment will be fully completed at the end of the 2025-26 season.

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At that point the Camp Nou will be at full capacity, and Barcelona want Messi back to play in their first season in their new stadium.

This is a feeling shared by Messi, who said recently that "I can’t leave football without playing at the new Camp Nou”.

By the time of his mooted return to Barcelona, Messi will be 39 years old.

Whether or not the Argentine superstar will still be at the level required at such an age remains to be seen, although he is still on course to play in a sixth World Cup next year.

Messi to return to Barcelona?

Messi departed Barcelona in the summer of 2021 amidst a flood of tears, moving on a free transfer to PSG as it became evident that the Camp Nou club could no longer afford him.

After two years at PSG he moved to Inter Miami in 2023.

He has scored 38 goals in 44 matches with Inter Miami and has generated 20 assists in that time.

He leads Barcelona all-time in goals, assists and appearances after a glittering 21-year career with the club.

Messi won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barcelona, while he has won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times and the European Golden Shoe six times.