Lionel Messi’s stance on ongoing Barcelona election – report

Barcelona’s presidential race is officially under way after Joan Laporta’s resignation, and the battle lines between Laporta and rival candidate Victor Font have sharpened. Yet one of the club’s most influential figures, Lionel Messi, has chosen to remain on the sidelines.

According to Diario SPORT, the Inter Miami star has informed those close to him that he will neither vote nor meet with any contender, a notable shift for a player who has historically taken part in club elections. While Xavi Hernández has openly aligned himself with Font, Messi—despite a fractured relationship with Laporta—has opted for neutrality.

Font has pledged that his first act in office would be to telephone Messi, but the Argentine will not be taking the call before ballots are cast. Sources cite the forward’s commitments in the United States, where he is preparing for the MLS season, as the principal reason for his detachment from the process. The report adds that Messi is wary of leveraging his popularity to sway an outcome, declining even to reference either candidate by name.

Although the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has ruled out participation this cycle, the same report suggests he could re-engage in future elections, potentially through endorsements or even a formal role. For now, Barcelona’s electorate will decide its next president without the direct influence of the man who, for two decades, defined the club’s identity on and off the pitch.