“This club is no longer mine.” These words, attributed to Lionel Messi by a close relative, have resonated like a bomb in the halls of FC Barcelona. According to internal club sources, the Argentine star, still marked by his humiliating exit in 2021, would be preparing a historic response: not a return to the pitch, but a direct intervention in the corridors of power. What began as a rumor after Barça’s last defeat against Elche has become an internal crisis that threatens to fracture the culé club in the face of the 2026 presidential elections.

Everything exploded in a locker room already on the brink of collapse. The defeat against Elche not only left Barcelona in an uncomfortable position in La Liga, but also sparked a tense meeting in which several managers openly questioned coach Hansi Flick’s decisions. In parallel, sources close to the club reveal that Deco, sporting director, held a secret meeting with representatives of Joan Laporta to discuss a project to expand the Camp Nou and other strategic initiatives, without consulting the technical staff or certain key managers. This gesture, interpreted as a lack of transparency, would have deeply irritated Messi, who maintains constant contact with former teammates and influential figures within the club.

According to the Argentine media *El Futuro*, Messi would have confessed to his inner circle that he will never forgive Laporta’s “double betrayal.” The first: his forced departure in the summer of 2021, when the culé president assured that there were no funds to renew his contract despite previous promises. The second: the unfulfilled promise of a symbolic return before his official retirement, a gesture that the Argentine expected as moral reparation. From this “cold anger”, as those close to it describe it, the idea of ​​direct intervention in the 2026 elections would be born, supporting an anti-Laporta candidate.

But the most shocking thing is not only Messi’s posture, but the silent support he would be receiving from within the current locker room. Several key first-team players, including a French world champion – whose name has not been revealed, but who points to figures like Jules Koundé or Ousmane Dembélé – and a young prodigy from La Masia, would have let those around them know that “they would not be against a change of course” if Messi decided to get politically involved in the club. This message, loaded with meaning, would have reached Laporta directly, touching him at his deepest level: his authority as president.

Hansi Flick, for his part, already weakened by the team’s irregular results – with frustrating draws and unexpected defeats – would have asked the board to “silence the rumours” to preserve the group’s concentration. However, internal sources assure that the fracture is now irreversible. There is talk of two clear sides: the unconditional supporters of Laporta and the “Messi camp”, made up of former players, former employees and sectors of Barcelona fans who never accepted the Argentine’s departure.

The atmosphere in the club is so tense that even the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) would be closely monitoring the situation. The fear is that the internal tensions will transfer to the Spanish team, where Lamine Yamal—Barça’s emerging star—coexists with several Catalan managers and players linked to the Blaugrana environment. A conflict of this magnitude could affect La Roja’s preparation for the upcoming international tournaments.

A former FC Barcelona manager, who preferred to remain anonymous, summed up the crisis with a lapidary phrase: “The problem is not Messi. It’s that, in reality, he never left Barcelona.” And, beyond the numbers and trophies, Leo’s influence transcends the playing field. His legacy is not only sporting, but also emotional and institutional. For millions of culés, Messi represents the identity of the club, and his distancing from Laporta is perceived as a betrayal of that essence.

If the rumors are confirmed, Lionel Messi would not seek a direct executive position, but rather a role of strategic influence: advisor, ambassador or public support for an opposition candidate. Figures like Víctor Font —who already competed against Laporta in 2021— or even Joan Laporta in their beginnings had the support of club legends. But never before had an idol of Messi’s stature threatened to lead a revolution from outside.

This move would not only put Laporta’s re-election in 2026 in check, but would also open a deep debate about Barcelona’s governance model. Is a club where decisions are made in secret meetings sustainable? Can a president ignore the locker room and the legends without paying a price? And what happens to institutional unity when the club’s greatest living symbol takes a stand against it?

Hansi Flick arrived at Barça with the mission of rebuilding a sporting project after the post-Messi era. But the results are not there: the team shows defensive fragility, excessive dependence on young people like Lamine Yamal and Pedri, and a lack of leadership in key moments. The pressure on the German coach is maximum, and the rumors about Messi only aggravate the situation.

Players like Robert Lewandowski, veteran and reference, would have privately expressed their concern about managerial instability. Others, like the youth players, see Messi as a father figure and a role model. Dividing the locker room between “laportistas” and “messistas” could be lethal for the season.

Messi’s departure in 2021 was not just a sporting goodbye. It was a collective trauma. Tears at the press conference, accusations crossed, broken promises and a void that the club has not yet filled. Laporta sold the departure as “necessary to save Barcelona”, but three years later, the team has not won the Champions League again and is fighting to remain in the elite.

Messi, from Miami, has rebuilt his football happiness with Inter Miami, but he never healed the Blaugrana wound. His public statements have been measured, but his silences and gestures—such as celebrating goals while looking at the camera with the Barça shield in his heart—speak louder than a thousand words.

If Messi decides to take the step, the 2026 elections will be the most polarized in the club’s history. On the one hand, Laporta will defend his management: the return of economic stability, the new Camp Nou, the boost to La Masia. On the other hand, a candidate supported by Messi will appeal to sentiment: tradition, identity, respect for legends.

And at the center of it all, Leo himself: not as a player, but as a symbol. Because, as that former manager said, “he never left.”

FC Barcelona has not finished shaking. What seemed like a simple rumor has turned into an all-out war of influence between the eternal idol and the man who closed the door on him. The next few months will be decisive. And the culés, once again, will count the days to find out if their king returns… even if it is to claim the throne.

*Keywords: Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona, ​​Joan Laporta, 2026 elections, Barça internal crisis, Messi return, Hansi Flick, Lamine Yamal, Laporta betrayal, Barcelona locker room, power in Barça, culé revolution, anti-Laporta candidate, Messi legacy, Spanish football.*