Lionel Messi’s Argentina farewell leaves Barcelona facing questions over muted response

Barcelona has prompted widespread debate after briefly commenting on Lionel Messi’s announcement that he was retiring from international football for Argentina, before deleting the message.

Messi announced his decision on Monday, attracting major attention across the sporting world because of his status as one of football’s greatest players. However, the response from the club where he spent most of his career fell short of the tribute many had expected.

Within hours of the announcement, Paris Saint-Germain – where Messi played for two seasons – published a message praising the impact of the current Inter Miami player and his influence on the sport.

Other clubs with no direct connection to most of Messi’s career also marked the occasion. Bayern Munich, Napoli and Augsburg were among those to recognise his achievements and celebrate his contribution to football.

Paris Saint-Germain’s tribute was accompanied by the message: “Farewell, Leo Messi. 🐐”

The reaction extended beyond football. Several official accounts belonging to National Basketball Association clubs also responded to the news, underlining the significance of Messi’s international retirement across the wider sporting world.

There was no comparable tribute on Barcelona’s official social media accounts, despite Messi spending the majority of his professional career with the Catalan club. During his time there, he played a central role in establishing Barcelona among Europe’s elite, winning numerous domestic and European honours and creating memorable moments for supporters around the world.

Barcelona did initially acknowledge the announcement. Its official account left a short comment beneath Messi’s Instagram post confirming his decision to end his international career.

The club wrote: “You gave everything you could until your final breath. Your country and the entire city of Barcelona are proud of the legacy you left.”

That message was later removed, a move which intensified criticism of Barcelona’s handling of the occasion and its relationship with the player.

The deletion was interpreted by some as a deliberate statement and a particularly harsh message towards Messi, especially at a moment when his former club was expected to offer an emotional farewell fitting his standing.

Messi wore the Barcelona shirt from 2005 until 2021, becoming one of the defining figures in the club’s history. He won a series of domestic and European trophies during that period and helped create an era that placed Barcelona at the forefront of world football.

He left after the expiry of his final contract with the club and subsequently joined Paris Saint-Germain. After two seasons in France, he moved to Inter Miami, where he currently plays.

His decision concerns international football rather than an end to his playing career altogether. Messi’s Argentina career has made him one of the most recognisable figures in the history of the sport, which explains the scale of the response from clubs and organisations around the world.

The contrast between those tributes and Barcelona’s brief, subsequently deleted comment has therefore led to renewed questions about the club’s stance towards its former captain and all-time great.

The subject can also be discussed in greater depth on the Kooora forums.