Between tears, Lionel Messi says goodbye to FC Barcelona

(Reuters) – Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi broke down in tears on Sunday during a press conference following his surprise departure from FC Barcelona after the club said it could no longer pay the Argentine’s high salaries without jeopardizing his future.

“I tried to behave with humility and respect and I hope that is what remains of me when I leave the club,” Messi said at the press conference as hundreds of fans, many of them wearing their number 10 jersey, gathered in front of the stadium. from Barça’s Camp Nou to say goodbye to the player they called Messiah.

Messi did not say what his immediate plans were.

Barcelona said on Thursday that the 34-year-old will leave the club, even though both parties had reached an agreement on a new contract, citing economic and structural obstacles to renewing the agreement.

Credit: PAU BARRENA / AFP via Getty Images

Messi, who joined Barça’s youth team at age 13, is the institution’s all-time top scorer and has made the most appearances for the club with 672 goals in 778 games in all competitions.

Forbes has listed him as the athlete with the second highest earnings in the world in 2021, with $ 130 million.