Lionel Messi’s incredible 17-season career at Barcelona appears to have come to an end and this marks as one of the most heartbreaking moments for football fans. On Monday, during a press conference Messi began crying even before he started speaking at his farewell ceremony at the Camp Nou Stadium. “This is very hard for me after so many years, after being here my entire life, I wasn’t prepared,” he said.
Barcelona fans and football fans around the world took to social media to express their sadness. Many even called it the end of an era.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"
— 👑 (@Ors_thinz) August 8, 2021
I've never felt such sadness about any one before.
End of an Era, Lionel Messi.
The
G.reatest standing
O.vation of
A.ll
T.ime pic.twitter.com/JngiTnhYy4
Lionel Messi can’t hold back the tears as he gets a standing ovation at the end of his magical Barcelona story. What a legend 💔💔 #LionelMessi pic.twitter.com/Fz2KHvSSGD
— 📿 RohaN,,RN,,❤️🚩 (@RnSRKsRiderr07) August 8, 2021
Seeing Messi in another shirt will always look unreal to his fans!#LionelMessi bids farewell to Barca pic.twitter.com/tdvDYl36o2
— Katabs Andrew (@andrewkatabs) August 8, 2021
End of an era 💔,
— Sabeeح (@sab44h) August 7, 2021
Thank you 'GOAT'🐐#LionelMessi #culer pic.twitter.com/iWCVdHj8Oc
Barcelona announced it could not keep its greatest player because it wasn’t able to fit a new contract within the Spanish league’s financial fair-play regulations. The club’s salary cap has been significantly slashed because of its huge debt. Messi asked to leave at the end of the 2019-20 season but his request was denied by Bartomeu.
The Argentina star had agreed to stay and had reached an agreement with Barcelona on a new contract, but the club wasn’t able to make it work because of its dire financial situation.
