In a shocking turn of events, Barcelona’s ‘Messiah’, Lionel Messi, has parted ways with his boyhood club after a successful 17-year career. In the official statement released by Barcelona, both Lionel Messi and the club had agreed to sign a new contract, but the regulations on player registration applied by the Spanish La Liga didn’t allow the deal to go through. This news has shaken football fans around the world, as Messi was heralded as a lifetime Barcelona player.
The good times
He ended his tenure at Barcelona with ten La Liga trophies, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Reys, three European Super Cups and seven Spanish Super Cups. Messi scored 672 goals and 288 assists in 778 appearances, making him the most capped Barca player of all time. He also won six Ballon D’or awards in his 17-year career at the Camp Nou, making him the greatest Blaugrana player of all time.
New beginnings
As soon as the news broke, the footballing world started the speculation game about where will Messi play next. Will it be with his old running mate, Neymar, at Paris Saint-Germain or under his former coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Some were also thinking about Juventus, linking up with his biggest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the end, the footballing atlas has certainly shrugged, with the unthinkable taking place. Now, as football fans, we can wait and watch to see what conspires next.