Lionel Messi Features in Surprise Barcelona Presidential Campaign Billboard

Barcelona awoke on Tuesday to an unexpected sight: a towering campaign billboard featuring Lionel Messi, the club’s former captain and record-setting forward. The image, unveiled by an as-yet-unnamed presidential candidate, has ignited city-wide speculation about a potential emotional return for the Argentine superstar.

Messi, whose departure from Camp Nou in 2021 sent shockwaves through global football, now stares down from the banner alongside a concise campaign slogan that neither confirms nor denies reunion plans, leaving residents and fans to parse every pixel for hidden meaning. Local radio stations and social media channels quickly filled with debate over whether the move signals a genuine attempt to bring the 37-year-old back to Catalonia or is simply a high-profile play for voter attention.

With presidential elections looming, the stunt has already achieved its primary goal: dominating headlines and coffee-shop conversations across Barcelona. Supporters gathered beneath the billboard throughout the morning, many capturing photos that circulated worldwide within minutes. The club, currently operating under an interim board, offered no immediate comment on the candidate’s use of Messi’s likeness or any potential regulatory implications.

Whether the promise implied by the poster translates into concrete negotiations remains to be seen, but for a fanbase still adjusting to life without its most iconic player, the mere suggestion of a homecoming is enough to keep hope alive.