Barcelona confirms Lionel Messi’s exit after 17 years and 35 titles

Barcelona confirmed the reports of Lionel Messi’s immediate exit from the team on Thursday, August 5th with an official statement. French champions PSG are front runners to get Argentinean services.

The official statement released by the FC Barcelona reads, “Leo Messi will not continue at FC Barcelona. Despite having reached an agreement between the Club  and  Leo Messi and with the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract , it will not be possible to formalize due to economic and structural obstacles (Spanish LaLiga regulations).”

The Argentine puts an end to his career as a Barca player, where he has been a total of 17 seasons in the first team in which he has won 35 titles, being the player with more titles in the history of the Club, in more than infinity of individual records.

During this last season, precisely, Leo Messi surpassed Xavi Hernández as the player who has worn Barça the most times . He also surpassed Sergio Ramos as the footballer with the most Classics played in history. And he broke Pelé’s record as the world’s top scorer at the same club . 

Messi has achieved all these records in the 17 years he has played in the first team. Since making his official debut on October 16, 2004, against Espanyol in a league match, the Argentine star has been beating records that seemed completely impossible.

It has been 17 years full of great moments. It is impossible to list them all without spending the computer keyboard. The starting point was that first goal – assisted by Ronaldinho – against Albacete on May 1, 2005, while the last title is still fresh in the memory: the Copa del Rey 2020/21 against Athletic Club (0-4) , which makes him 35 titles as a Barça player . As an individual, Messi also accumulates more awards than anyone: six Golden Balls, eight Pitxitxis.