It’s a period of celebration for FC Barcelona and their fans. Not only because Hansi Flick and his team are leading the La Liga standings, but also because the iconic club is marking its 125th anniversary. To honor this significant milestone, Barcelona has organized several events; however, a pressing question remains: Will Lionel Messi, undoubtedly the greatest player in the club’s history, be present at these celebrations?

To kick things off, Barcelona arranged a gala where current and former players gathered to commemorate the club’s birthday. Following that event is an important match against Las Palmas that aims to conclude the festivities on a high note with hopefully a victory. As for the gala itself, it comes as no surprise that Lionel Messi was invited. In fact, he received his invitation two weeks prior but unfortunately was unable to attend.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Lionel Messi had obligations elsewhere that prevented him from being there. Nonetheless, he managed to pre-record a video message that was shared during the gala. Now while he missed the gala, will he attend the 125th Anniversary Game between Barcelona and Las Palmas?

The match is set to be a big event with Barca’s teen sensation Lamine Yamal also making his return from injury to play against Las Palmas. Unfortunately the answer to that question also most likely remains no. There have been no indications or promises of his attendance at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys for this match either.

It appears those same previous commitments may again hinder Lionel Messi from coming. But don’t worry Barca fans! Even if La Pulga’s not physically present at these events, his heartfelt message did reach out to congratulate Barcelona on its 125th anniversary.

‘Grateful’ Lionel Messi makes heartfelt speech

Well, Barca supporters, if you haven’t had the chance to hear Lionel Messi’s heartfelt message yet, get ready to shed some tears. On this significant occasion, the Argentina maestro began his note with the words, “I want to congratulate Barça for these 125 years.” He continued by stating, “It is an honor to be part of the club. I was lucky that God guided me to this place and made me spend my whole life in this wonderful club.”

As a genuine Culer, he shared his hopes for the team’s future by saying, “I hope we continue to do well and we can continue to make this club bigger.” It’s clear that once a Culer, always a Culer! Following this touching message, loud applause erupted in the gala hall along with chants of Messi’s name as they showcased a video recounting his journey with the Catalan giants. Although Lionel Messi may not currently be part of the club, his impact and presence are still profoundly felt throughout its history.