Summary

  • Messi to end 21-year association with Barca

  • Club confirmed last week they could not honour new deal

  • Barca's record scorer has been a free agent since previous deal expired

  • Six-time Ballon d'Or winner now in talks over free transfer to PSG

  • Get Involved: #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

  1. 'I would've imagined the Camp Nou full'published at 11:17 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Messi: "I love this club. Without seeing the fans for over a year and a half has been very hard.

    "If I had imagined it [his leaving speech] I would've imagined the Camp Nou full and being able to say goodbye properly."

  2. 'I never imagined having to say goodbye'published at 11:14 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Messi: "After 21 years I'm leaving with my three Catalan Argentine kids. We've lived in this city, this is our home. I'm just really grateful for everything, all my team-mates, everyone who has been by my side.

    "I gave everything for this club from the first day I arrived to the last. I never imagined having to say goodbye as I didn't think about it."

  3. Postpublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Messi: Honestly last year with all the nonsense with the Burofax I was convinced I knew what I wanted say, but this year is not the same. This year my family and I were convinced we were going to stay here at home, its what we wanted more than anything.

  4. Postpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Messi: The truth is don't know what to say. In recent days I have given lots of thought to what I can say and the truth is that I can't think of anything.

    This is really difficult for me after so many years being here, my entire life. I'm not ready for this.

  5. Postpublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Lionel Messi is in tears as he gets a round of applause walking onto the stage.

  6. Postpublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Here he is.....

  7. Watch 10 great Messi goals for Barcelonapublished at 11:02 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    If you were wondering what all the fuss is about, watch 10 great goals by Lionel Messi for Barcelona in the 2020-21 season.

    Available to UK users only.

  8. Scenes at the Nou Camppublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  9. Postpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Looks like the man himself has arrived.

    Fans gathered outside the Nou Camp during Lionel Messi's news conference on 8 August 2021Image source, Reuters
  10. Incredible statspublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    After 778 appearances and a staggering 672 goals, Messi will move on from Barcelona with 10 league titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups among his haul of 35 trophies.

    Lionel Messi's Barcelona trophiesImage source, Getty Images
  11. 'Messi Da La Cara'published at 10:55 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    'Messi shows his face' is the headline on the front of Spanish daily Sport this morning.

    Front page of SportImage source, Sport
  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    #bbcfootball

    What are your thoughts about Lionel Messi's Barcelona exit and proposed move to PSG?

    Is he the last piece in the jigsaw for PSG to finally win the Champions League? And how will Barca cope without him?

    Let us know your thoughts on Twitter using #bbcfootball.

  13. 'Best player in the world'published at 10:51 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman was among those shocked with the news Lionel Messi was set to leave the club.

    Here's how Koeman reacted on social media...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  14. PSG leading the chase?published at 10:48 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    Paris St-Germain are in talks with Lionel Messi's representatives about the Argentina forward joining the Ligue 1 club following his Barcelona exit.

    BBC Sport has been told the Messi camp contacted PSG on Thursday once it became clear Barcelona were unable to honour the contract they had agreed.

    Further talks took place Saturday amid increasing confidence a deal can be put together.

  15. Why is Messi leaving?published at 10:45 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    On Thursday, Barcelona said Messi, a free agent, would not stay at the club.

    They blamed "financial and structural obstacles" for the player leaving after 21 years.

    On Friday, Barca president Joan Laporta said keeping Messi could have put the club at risk for 50 years.

    Messi, 34, has been a free agent since 1 July when his contract expired. He had agreed a new five-year contract on reduced wages - but the club still had to slash their wage bill to afford him, and were unable to do so.

  16. Messi on the movepublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 8 August 2021

    He is one of the world's greatest footballers - if not the greatest. But what next for Lionel Messi?

    The rumour mill was sent into overdrive when Barcelona confirmed the Argentine would not be signing a new deal at the club on Thursday, ending a glittering 21-year association with the Catalan giants.

    We have yet to hear from the man himself, though - until now.

    Messi is due to speak at a news conference at 11am BST, where his future plans will hopefully become clear.

    The footballing world waits with bated breath.

    Lionel MessiImage source, Getty Images