Joan Laporta confirms possible date for Lionel Messi's tribute

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has provided a fresh update on the club’s plans to honour Lionel Messi, revealing that the long-awaited tribute could take place once the renovated Spotify Camp Nou is fully completed.

Laporta confirmed the news while he was speaking during Barcelona’s General Assembly on September 19, 2026. He reiterated that the club wants to give Messi a major farewell in front of the supporters.

He said the club would organise the tribute once the stadium is fully finished, provided Messi agrees to attend. Laporta said the current target is summer 2028, when the Spotify Camp Nou renovation is expected to be fully completed.

The tribute could potentially be staged in front of close to 105,000 spectators, giving Messi the farewell he never received when he left Barcelona in 2021. The Barcelona president also paid tribute to Messi's late father, Jorge Messi, who died in August 2026, describing him as an extraordinary person who played an important role in his son's career.

Lionel Messi’s unfinished Barcelona farewell

Messi left Barcelona in 2021 after the club was unable to renew his contract because of its financial situation. His departure came without the traditional farewell match or a packed Camp Nou send-off.

Barcelona have since maintained their desire to correct that, with Laporta previously saying that the club had been in contact with Messi's family about a tribute. With the renovated Camp Nou ultimately expected to accommodate around 105,000 fans, Barcelona now appear to be targeting the stadium's full completion as the occasion for Messi's grand tribute.

When is the date of Lionel Messi tribute?

Possible date: Summer 2028
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou

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