Barça: Laporta reveals an incident with Messi

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·24 February 2026

Barça: Laporta reveals an incident with Messi

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Messi and Laporta, the unease continues

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Barça: Laporta reveals an incident with Messi

The relationship between Lionel Messi and Joan Laporta still appears to be marked by a certain distance. According to the Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo, the FC Barcelona president admitted that his ties with the Argentine legend are no longer as warm as they once were.

Laporta notably mentioned a telling moment that occurred during the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

"The relationship with Messi is not what it used to be. There was also an incident at the Ballon d'Or ceremony where I went to greet him and he considered that we didn't need to greet each other," confessed the Catalan president.

Despite this situation, Laporta insists he still hopes for a reconciliation in the future.

"Since then, there have been a few attempts at rapprochement and we hope that it will happen in the future. The relationship is damaged, but he is a Barça legend," he explained.

The Barcelona president also reminded everyone that the Argentine will always have a home at Camp Nou:

"Leo deserves a statue and a tribute when the stadium is finished."

🗣️🇪🇸 Joan Laporta has revealed that Lionel Messi AVOIDED GREETING HIM at the 2023 Ballon d'Or gala. “The relationship with Messi is not what it used to be. There was also an incident at the Ballon d'Or ceremony where I went to greet him and HE CONSIDERED THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO
– Tuesday, 24 February 2026

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Barça: Laporta reveals an incident with Messi | OneFootball

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