Lionel Messi absent from Barcelona’s 125th anniversary?

The former Catalan great will miss Barca’s anniversary due to other obligations. Despite being expected to attend Barcelona’s 125th anniversary celebrations, Lionel Messi will not.

After being invited two weeks ago, Mundo Deportivo reports that Messi will not attend the Barcelona event on Friday, November 29 due to unclear prior commitments. Despite expectations, the 37-year-old is not present.

Messi left Barcelona at the end of the 2021 season due to financial issues, despite becoming the world’s finest player. He leads a long line of Barcelona legends with six Ballons d’Or and 35 titles.

President Joan Laporta wanted to re-sign Messi after his Paris Saint-Germain contract expired, but this would have been his first visit to Barcelona since 2021. Messi joined David Beckham’s Inter Miami due of financial issues.

Inter Miami lost to Atlanta United in a three-game MLS Cup series, ending the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s season. He led his team to the MLS Supporters’ Shield.

After the MLS season, Messi will enjoy the off-season, which ends in mid-February, to prepare for another season with Inter Miami. Messi tied for second in the 2024 Golden Boot with 21 goals. Barcelona returned to action on Saturday, but Celta de Vigo held them 2-2. Their opponents Real Madrid, who play Leganes, can trim the seven-point difference to four.