Lionel Messi made an unannounced visit to Camp Nou on Sunday night, his first since leaving FC Barcelona. The visit came after he led Inter Miami to victory against Nashville in the MLS playoffs.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s return to the stadium marked an emotional homecoming. Messi has previously expressed his disappointment at leaving Barcelona due to the club’s financial difficulties.The Argentine superstar, who spent more than 20 years in Barcelona, shared his feelings on social media after the visit.He wrote: “Last night I returned to a place that my soul misses. A place where I was extremely happy, where you made me feel like a thousand times the luckiest person in the world. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to…”Barcelona recently allowed their senior team to train at Camp Nou while renovation work continues. The club expects to resume home games at the venue later this season.Messi left Barcelona in 2021 when financial problems prevented the club from renewing his contract. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain before fulfilling his World Cup dream with Argentina in 2022.The football icon has now reached a new milestone with his 400th career assist. That feat came during Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Nashville in the MLS Cup playoffs.During the match, Messi scored twice and provided two assists for teammate Tadeo Allende. He opened the scoring in the 10th minute and added another goal in the 39th minute before setting up two more goals in the second half.“I want to congratulate Leo on his performance,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “He was the first to lead us under high pressure. To see him press like that at 38 is crazy. We all know about Leo with the ball, but what happened today with Leo without the ball was impressive.”The legendary player currently plays for Inter Miami after ending his European club career. His move to the MLS team followed a successful stint at Paris Saint-Germain.Messi’s connection to Barcelona remains strong despite his departure. His impromptu visit to Camp Nou demonstrates the enduring bond he maintains with the club where his professional journey began.
