Lionel Messi set for Barcelona RETURN as Joan Laporta sends personal invite

Lionel Messi is set to make a sensational return to his former club Barcelona for their 125th anniversary celebrations, this month.

Lionel Messi set for Barcelona RETURN as Joan Laporta sends personal invite

Lionel Messi is set to make a sensational return to Barcelona, following Joan Laporta's invite. (via Barcelona.com)

Argentinian skipper Lionel Messi is expected to make a return to his former side FC Barcelona, during their 125th anniversary celebration this month. The 37-year-old star was sent a personal invite to attend the event by Barca president Joan Laporta. 

Lionel Messi is one of, if not the greatest Barcelona player of all time. He joined the club’s famed La Masia academy back in 2000, as a shy 13-year-old boy with growth hormone deficiency. Messi then made his senior debut in 2004, later going on to make more than 700 appearances for Barcelona. He is the club’s highest goal-scorer with 672 goals, and has won a record 34 major titles. Many had expected him to remain a one-club player, but he eventually left in 2021.

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Differences with club president Joan Laporta over contract issues as well as Barca’s weak financial state forced Messi to leave to join PSG. In 2023, Messi joined Inter Miami, despite rumors of a return to his old club. Now at the dawn of his career, the 37-year-old is set to make a return to Barcelona for its 125th anniversary celebrations. The event will be held on 29 November, at the Gran Teatre del Liceu. Some sources have also pointed to a testimonial match at Camp Nou, as a part of the anniversary celebrations. 

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Apart from Lionel Messi, the event will also be graced by a host of former Barcelona players, including Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pep Guardiola. It will be a significant occasion for the Argentine, who had also missed Iniesta’s retirement celebrations last month. 

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Lionel Messi achieves another international record, during Argentina’s World Cup qualifier win over Peru

Lionel Messi has achieved another unique record, becoming the joint-top assist provider in international football history. He equaled USMNT legend Landon Donovan’s record of 58 assists, while helping his side claim an important World Cup qualifier victory. 

Lionel Messi assists record
Lionel Messi equaled Landon Donovan’s record for most assists in international football. (via GOAL)

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner assisted Lautaro Martinez against Peru, in a crucial 1-0 win. The assist marked Messi’s 58th for his national team, in 191 appearances. He, however, took more time to break the assists-record than Landon Donovan, who reached the top in just 157 appearances. Messi is also the second-highest goalscorer in international football, behind Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Not just Messi, Lautaro Martinez also overtook Gonzalo Higuan and Angel Di Maria in terms of goals scored for Argentina. The 27-year-old Inter Milan star is now in the sixth-place on the all-time top-scorers table. He has scored 32 goals, and is just two strikes behind legend Diego Maradona.