Revealed: Barcelona’s special ‘Lionel Messi plans’ for Nou Camp’s 2026 reopening

Spanish football giants Barcelona are planning a special ceremony to honour Lionel Messi during the grand reopening of the Nou Camp in 2026.

The club, who have not played at their iconic stadium since 2023, are now completing a record £1.3 billion redevelopment with a new roof, VIP rings, and a third tier. The redeveloped stadium will be occupied by 105,000 supporters, the biggest sports stadium in Europe, when finished.

Barcelona have been hosting their temporary home games at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, approximately two-and-a-half miles from the Nou Camp.

Club bosses, Mundo Deportivo adds, would be keen to have Messi head the re-opening ceremony when work is complete—presumably in the 2026–27 season.

Although no invitation has yet been made official, the story is that plans are already underway to include Messi and other club greats in the ceremony.

Barcelona will make the journey back to the Nou Camp this month to host the Joan Gamper Trophy, even while construction work on the stadium is ongoing and continued until 2026.

Messi, who departed the club in 2021 after a financial collapse with the board, was not said to have met with club president Joan Laporta since his tearful departure. He moved on to Paris Saint-Germain before joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer in 2023.

In spite of the quiet between the two sides, Barcelona believe that the Argentine icon will consent to be involved in the historical event that will have them completely return to the ground where he made his name.