The rift between Lionel Messi and Joan Laporta continues to fuel debate in Catalonia. Four years after the painful departure of "La Pulga" from FC Barcelona, the Blaugrana president publicly acknowledges that relations with the Argentine icon have cooled.

Having reached the end of his contract in the summer of 2021, Messi was unable to extend his stay at Barça due to the club's serious financial difficulties. This abrupt separation led him to Paris Saint-Germain, before later joining Inter Miami CF. A chapter closed with pain, and clearly not entirely.

In the midst of his campaign for re-election as president of Barça, Laporta admitted that his relationship with the 2022 World Cup winner was no longer the same. He specifically mentioned an incident that occurred during the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony.

Present to greet his former player, the Catalan executive reportedly sensed a certain distance. According to him, Messi felt the gesture wasn't necessary, a sign that past hurts remain raw.

"The relationship with Messi is not what it used to be," Laporta acknowledged, while leaving the door open for a reconciliation.

Despite this coolness, the Barcelona president insists: Messi remains an indisputable legend of the club. Barça's all-time leading scorer, multiple winner of La Liga and the Champions League, the Argentinian has forever marked the identity of the Catalan club.

Laporta has also reaffirmed his desire to organize a grand tribute at Camp Nou, currently undergoing renovations, and even to erect a statue of Messi in front of the stadium. This powerful gesture would definitively seal the club's recognition of its greatest player.