Barcelona Set To Immortalise Lionel Messi With Statue At Spotify Camp Nou
The buzzing corridors at FC Barcelona headquarters lit up with emotion this week as president Joan Laporta confirmed the club is actively planning a statue of Lionel Messi outside the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou.
According to Laporta, the design phase is underway, and discussions with Messi and his family will follow once the concept is ready. It’s been a long time coming. Messi’s storied career at Barça spanned over two decades, 13 as a youth and senior player combined, culminating in 672 goals in 778 appearances.
The club has earmarked this statue as a central tribute to his legacy, aligning it with the stadium’s broader reopening and reconstruction.
The Why Behind The Monument
In the eyes of the club and its faithful supporters, Messi’s impact at Barcelona transcends mere numbers. Laporta explicitly compared him to the likes of Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, and Ladislao Kubala, figures whose statues already stand as timeless markers of Barça’s history. The president emphasised: “He deserves a statue and we will work on that,” underlining the club’s intent to make this more than a token gesture.
The decision also appears closely tied to the ongoing renovation of the Camp Nou. The stadium’s capacity is being expanded to 105,000 spectators, and the makeover forms part of the wider “Espai Barça” project. Laporta sees the statue as one of the first major homages to mark the next chapter of the club, a symbolic bridge between the past and future.
Another motivation: achieving closure. Messi’s departure in 2021 was emotionally charged and, for many, lacked a fitting farewell. Laporta acknowledged that while Messi now plays for Inter Miami CF in the MLS, the club still “owes him the best tribute in the world.” The planned statue is intended to serve that purpose.
The Practicalities And Potential Roadblocks
Despite the fanfare, several moving parts still need to align. Laporta said the club is “working on it” but emphasised that the design must get approval, not just from the club, but from Messi’s family.
Where exactly outside the stadium the statue will stand remains unconfirmed. Timing is another consideration. The full reopening of the new Spotify Camp Nou is expected in 2026, though partial occupancy could occur late in 2025. Laporta implied the tribute will coincide with this milestone.
However, aligning schedules, construction deadlines, and the availability of Messi himself, who is contracted until at least 2027 with Inter Miami, complicates the timeline. Relationship dynamics remain delicate. While the announcement carries optimism, reports suggest Messi remains frustrated with Barcelona’s handling of his exit in 2021. The success of the tribute may hinge on genuine reconciliation between the parties.
Financial considerations are also relevant. Immortalising Messi via a statue is expensive, but relative to the broader stadium overhaul, it may be a minor cost. Still, it raises questions of priorities as Barça continues to balance debt and investment in infrastructure and squad.
The Broader Significance For Barça And Messi
For Barcelona, this gesture is a reaffirmation of identity. Messi’s name is entwined with “Més que un club” – a slogan the club holds dear. By anchoring his legacy physically at the heart of the stadium, Barça renews its promise to aficionados that the club honours its past while embracing its future.
For Messi, the statue would plug a gap in the narrative. He left the club without a proper send‑off, and many felt he never got to bid farewell on his own terms. His surprise late‑night visit to Camp Nou, described by Laporta as “an arrebato simpático y espontáneo,” magnified that sentiment. A statue would symbolise that closure.
For fans and the city of Barcelona it’s more than a sculpture. It’s a pilgrimage point. The imagery of the GOAT immortalised outside the stadium where he crafted so many unforgettable moments is powerful. It reinforces the heritage of the club and La Liga for future generations.
What Happens Next And What We’ll Be Watching
In the coming months the design reveal will be key, showing the first visual draft of the statue and confirming its exact location. The club will then need the green light from Messi’s camp, acceptance of the design, timing, and involvement. Construction will be carefully coordinated with the stadium project so the statue stands ready for the reopening.
Ceremony details remain under discussion, including whether Messi will attend and how fans will be involved. These plans tie into broader celebrations around the new stadium phase.
In short, the forthcoming statue of Lionel Messi at Spotify Camp Nou is not just a piece of bronze, it is a statement. It says: we remember, we honour, and we pass this legacy forward. The road ahead is still paved with decisions and diplomacy, but if executed well, it could become one of the most meaningful tributes in recent football history.
