Barcelona planning Lionel Messi-led celebration to mark Camp Nou return: Report

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :July 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM

Modified at :July 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

The club are set to start playing in the new Camp Nou from next season.

Barcelona planning Lionel Messi-led official Spotify Camp Nou inauguration: Report

To celebrate their return to the Camp Nou, Barcelona are reportedly organising a lavish ceremony that will include former talisman Lionel Messi.

Since the completion of the 2022–2023 season, the Blagruana have had to play away from their historic home. It was done to make room for a major reconstruction project that will cost more than £1.3 billion. A dual VIP ring, a new roof, and the construction of the new third tier are among the modifications.

With an attendance of 105,000, the Camp Nou is expected to be the biggest sports arena in all of Europe after renovations are finished. The team has been forced to play their home games at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, which is about three miles away, due to the ongoing construction.

Hansi Flick guided the team to their first league championship since their exile started last season. It is said that plans are already in motion for how they will commemorate their eagerly anticipated comeback.

Renovations will continue throughout the upcoming season, and the team is anticipated to return to the Camp Nou for the traditional Joan Gamper Trophy exhibition next month.

As a result, the full celebrations are not planned until the renovations are finished. A Mundo Deportivo story claims that Messi will be the focal point of Barcelona’s opening ceremony, with a number of other club icons also expected to make an appearance.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami MLS — Lionel Messi left FC Barcelona in the summer of 2021 (Photo via Getty Images)

The club apparently hopes to host the event during the 2026–2027 season if the stadium’s roof is installed as scheduled next summer.

Notwithstanding the suggestions, the source notes that the club have not yet gotten in touch with the Argentina captain directly about a possible return to Catalonia.

Messi and Barcelona president Joan Laporta have not communicated since Messi’s contentious exit from the team in the summer of 2021.

When did Lionel Messi leave Barcelona?

Messi left Barcelona in 2021.

When will Barcelona start playing in the renovated Camp Nou?

The club will start playing in the renovated stadium on August 10, 2025.

Has Messi been contacted yet regarding this idea?

As per the source, not yet. The icon is yet to be contacted regarding this idea.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.