Barcelona pondering on immortalising Messi by naming stadium after football legend

Discussions are reportedly underway at FC Barcelona to rename the club’s iconic stadium after Lionel Messi. According to a report in MARCA, voices within the Catalan club are pushing for the revamped venue to potentially adopt the name ‘Spotify Camp Nou Leo Messi’.

The development comes alongside an existing proposal to install a statue of Messi outside the stadium, a project the club is already evaluating. 

Messi has been playing professionally since 2004. He made his La Liga debut with Barcelona in October of that year at only 17 years old, becoming, at the time, the youngest player to play for the Spanish club.

With FC Barcelona, from 2003-2021, Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances, helping the club win 3 FIFA Club World Cups (2009, 2011, 2015), 4 UEFA Champions League (2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2014/15), and 3 UEFA Super Cups (2009/10, 2011/12, 2015/16), according to the club website.

In 2021, Messi left Barcelona and moved to the French club Paris Saint-Germain. After two years with PSG, Messi signed with the American league Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami.

Having enjoyed a decorated club career, Messi’s international success came in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties to win its first trophy since 1986. Messi won his second Golden Ball and was voted the tournament’s best player.

Next, Messi has expressed hope of representing Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to help the defending champions retain their title when the tournament takes place in North America next summer, despite fitness and age concerns.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has told the media that he will evaluate how his body feels before deciding whether to participate in the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)