Why hasn't Lionel Messi received a Barcelona testimonial, and could he still be given one?
The Athletic piece examines the long-standing absence of a testimonial for Lionel Messi at Barcelona, a rarity for a player of his stature. It discusses the complicated circumstances of his 2021 departure, the financial and institutional challenges facing the club since, and whether a farewell event could still materialize. The article also touches on Messi's current trajectory with Inter Miami and Argentina, framing the testimonial question within his broader legacy.
Read the full story at nytimes.comTestimonials are typically reserved for long-serving players who retire at a single club, and Messi's messy exit to PSG in 2021 — driven by Barcelona's financial collapse rather than his own choice — left no natural occasion for one. The question now is whether Camp Nou, once the Messi stage above all others, will ever host a proper farewell. With the stadium undergoing major renovation and Messi still active in MLS, the timing is awkward but not impossible, and the discussion itself underscores how unresolved his Barcelona chapter remains.
Context added by Socc360, not by nytimes.com.
Data source: nytimes.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
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