Lionel Messi had become the face of Barcelona over his 21-year run with the club. The club and the player became synonymous, and his commitment to the club means that he also played in quite a few generations of the club. He has played with the likes of Ronaldinho to the likes of Ansu Fati, and everyone is devastated to see him leave. The choice was not his to make, Lionel Messi wanted to stay, and remain a one-club player. However, new regulations forced him to look for another club.
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The 34-year-old spent many memorable years at the club, and he has been with the club through their highs and lows. He was present when the club won the sextuple, and he was also there when the club lost 7-0 to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. He is a determined player, and he hates to lose. However, he decided to stay with the club even though their most difficult moments, as it was more than a club to him, Barcelona was his home, his teammates were his family, and fans were the ones he cherished the most.
It will be difficult to see him play in a different club, wearing different colors, and having different fans sing his name. However, in life, we must learn how to move forward. We can sit around and wish for things to go back the way they were or we can look forward to the magical future which awaits us, and Lionel Messi would want Barca fans to do the latter. Having said that, the legend still deserves a good farewell, and his teammates have already begun to wish him the best on his journey forward.
Former teammates’ write farewell message to Lionel Messi
Many former Barcelona players, who played alongside Messi have shown their support for the Argentine, and many players who are currently playing for the Catalans have done the same. Here are some of the players who sent the Catalan legend a heartfelt goodbye on their social media, and of course in person as well.