Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced on Thursday that the club intends to build a statue of Lionel Messi outside the newly refurbished Camp Nou, as the Catalan giants prepare a major tribute to their all-time leading scorer following his emotional return to the stadium.

Messi, now 38, visited Barcelona on Sunday to walk through the revamped venue for the first time since departing in 2021. After the visit, he wrote on Instagram that he hoped to “return one day, and not only to say goodbye as a player,” reigniting sentiment among supporters.

Speaking at a book presentation in the city, Laporta revealed that the board has already begun discussing a permanent homage to the Argentine World Cup champion.

“Messi will always be part of Barça’s history, and he knows the doors are always open to him,” Laporta said. “We have immense respect for him, and he deserves the greatest tribute. He should have a statue at Spotify Camp Nou just like Johan Cruyff and László Kubala. He’s one of the iconic figures who shaped this club. We’ve talked about it in board meetings and have started working on it, but his family must approve—and every Barça fan would welcome it.”

Laporta also reiterated that a playing reunion is not on the table, calling talk of Messi returning to the pitch for Barcelona “unrealistic,” particularly after the forward extended his contract with MLS side Inter Miami last month.

Messi joined Barcelona’s academy at age 13 and went on to score 672 goals in 778 matches, guiding the club to 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League trophies, and three Club World Cups during his 21-year spell.

Camp Nou—closed for nearly 900 days for extensive renovation—reopened on Friday with an open training session attended by more than 20,000 supporters. Laporta said the club aims to hold “the most beautiful tribute in the world” for Messi once the stadium project is fully completed.