Return to Barcelona? Possibility of Barcelona Re-signing Messi: Not Hopeless, Could Be Loaned for 6 Months Before World Cup
Messi and Barcelona, Barcelona and Messi—this legendary story never seemed meant to end, at least not with such an abrupt halt on that fateful August 5th. Now, over four years later, during the international break, the greatest player in football history quietly visited the under-renovation Spotify Camp Nou, a sacred place that witnessed countless joys and sorrows of his. This unexpected visit reignited hopes among countless Barcelona fans: Could the Argentine superstar possibly don the red and blue jersey again?
Just weeks ago, Messi renewed his contract with Inter Miami until the end of 2028, when he will turn 41. But this doesn’t mean the club led by Laporta has to wait until the contract expires to make the club’s greatest player "return as a king"—opportunities could come in other forms.
First, there’s the delicate relationship between Messi and Barcelona president Laporta. Messi has never forgotten the way he left the club. Though their conflicts have eased and tensions subsided, true understanding or reconciliation is far from achieved. The Barcelona president has sent signals of reconciliation in multiple public statements, yet Messi has remained unresponsive.
"We had a long period of friendly coexistence. But after the contract renewal failed, the relationship cracked. However, it has more or less healed since then," the Barcelona leader said weeks ago. Messi, meanwhile, only shared his thoughts on the unfulfilled tribute ceremony during that touching moment when he returned to the green field where he grew up.
Second, purely footballing factors must be considered. This is the point that has sparked the deepest discussions, destined to take up much space in various media programs and stir controversies: Is there a suitable position for Messi in Flick’s Barcelona? At first glance, the Argentine seems to have only two options: either as a false nine or an attacking midfielder. Roughly, these are the roles he currently plays in national team matches.
When exploring the possibility of a January move, the difference between the MLS season cycle and Europe’s top five leagues must be considered. In the recently concluded MLS Quarterfinals, the World Cup champion scored twice and provided an assist (surpassing 400 career assists), leading Inter Miami to a 4-0 victory over Nashville to advance to the next round. Since the North American season aligns with the calendar year, Inter Miami’s campaign could last until the December 6th final, meaning Messi’s club season could extend to that date.
The new MLS season won’t start until mid-to-late February next year, so if he stays with Miami, Messi will face a two-month competitive gap.
Thus, after the end of this MLS season, Messi could invoke a special league clause to join a European club on loan during the offseason—a path taken by Henry, Donovan, and even Beckham to stay sharp in Europe. But except for free agents, La Liga’s registration window opens in January, making a short-term loan last only about a month, greatly reducing its operational value.
The ideal "last dance" scenario might be a six-month loan before the 2026 World Cup. But this requires solving two major issues: the constraints of La Liga’s Financial Fair Play, and whether Inter Miami would let their core leave during a crucial phase of chasing their first Concacaf Champions League title. This could help Messi reach peak form for the World Cup, as the Albiceleste chase a fourth star.
Finally, it’s not impossible that there’s a special clause in his contract: "terminate if Barcelona calls"—when he joined MLS in 2023, a return to Camp Nou was an option, and the player has always regarded Barcelona as his spiritual home.
Though his advancing age and the rift with Laporta’s management make a return as a player increasingly unlikely, the right to dream of seeing the prodigal son return deserves respect. Countless red and blue faithful, like the king himself, regret that the legend never got a dignified farewell on Camp Nou’s turf.
