Deco confirms Messi will certainly feature in a farewell match at Barça

Following Messi's departure from Barcelona as a free agent in August 2021 due to the club's financial crisis, discussions have arisen regarding the organization of a tribute match to honor the legendary Argentine player.

"He [Messi] will definitely play a farewell game at Barcelona, but when that will be, we don't know," Deco told Lance  .

"He will always be the greatest idol in the club's history. The club had great idols, like [Johan] Cruyff, Ronaldo, but he is perhaps the greatest of all."

During his remarkable 20-year tenure with Barcelona, Lionel Messi, the club's all-time leading goal scorer, amassed an impressive collection of 35 trophies.

Earlier this month, Jorge Mas, the managing owner of Inter Miami, expressed his willingness for his team to play a match in Barcelona, providing Lionel Messi with an opportunity to bid farewell to his fans.

Deco: "He (Messi) will definitely play a farewell game at Barcelona, but when it will be, we don't know. He is playing, and I hope he plays for more years, because the people who like football, who like him, will be happy to see him happy." pic.twitter.com/45vBfjZhrb

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 19, 2023

Barcelona president Joan Laporta echoed this sentiment on Thursday when he stated during an interview with Catalunya Radio that it would be fitting for Messi's farewell game to coincide with the inauguration of the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

"It would be fantastic if he could be part of the Spotify Camp Nou re-opening. It will be finished in June 2026 but we will be back in November 2024 and that could also be a good date. We're going to see. We would like it to happen and I hope it does," he said.

On Tuesday, the Argentina star refuted claims that he was considering a loan move during the MLS offseason this winter after Inter Miami failed to make the playoffs with reports linking him with Barcelona and several Saudi Arabian clubs. 

“No. It’s a shame [we didn't qualify],” Messi said, per ESPN. “We came very close. I missed the last few games, we had several injuries. The month of July was very hard for us, we played every three days, we traveled. But we won a tournament, which is important for the club and for what is coming next year. 

"I will train, I will play our upcoming match [against Charlotte FC] and I will try to get here [to the national team] in the best possible way for November.

"After that, I will enjoy the holidays in Argentina. It's the first time that I am going to have more days off in December, with the holidays, with peace of mind, with my people. In January, I will return again to do preseason. Start from scratch and prepare as best as possible as always."

After making a triumphant return to action in Argentina's recent World Cup qualifier, where he scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Peru, Lionel Messi was noticeably absent from Miami's final game of the regular MLS season. The match ended in a 2-2 draw against the emerging franchise, Charlotte FC.