Lionel Messi is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign and there has been speculation that he will re-join Barcelona next summer – but what shirt number could he take?
Messi exited the Camp Nou 12 months ago as he joined PSG on a two-year contract after the Catalan club were unable to afford his new deal. Barca's economic vice president Eduard Romeu recently suggested that a sensational return to the club for the Argentine would be possible next summer.
Those comments were echoed by Barcelona club president Joan Laporta, who added: "We have a moral debt with him in this sense. We would like the end of his career to be with the Barca shirt and being applauded in all fields."
The reality of Messi returning to the club may prove to be somewhat more complicated due to the fractious and unexpected nature of his exit a year ago, but the possibility should not be ruled out due to his contractual situation in Paris.
Messi became iconic at Barcelona in the number 10 shirt, where he did not only become the club’s highest ever goal scorer with 672 first-team goals – but that was a number higher than the second highest scorer, third highest and fourth highest, all combined.
However, that number is currently occupied at Barca by teenage scoring sensation Ansu Fati who, despite multiple injury issues in recent years, remains as one of world football’s brightest young talents. So what other numbers could Messi select?
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At PSG, he wears the number 30 shirt. After moving to the Parc des Princes a year ago, the Argentine explained: “Number 30 was the first number I wore when I made my debut at FC Barcelona. In my early years and after so much time, it’s as if I was starting something new, and it’s good to be back in the 30s.”
That number is also currently in use by another teenage talent Gavi, however – the Spaniard has swiftly established himself as a regular first-team starter at Barca, and that status may help give him a much lower number to reflect this position. The likely exit of Sergio Busquets (number 5) this coming summer, could open up such a spot for Gavi.
When Ronaldinho occupied the number 10 shirt at Barca during Messi’s early years – the Argentine wore the 19 number for the club. That is currently being worn by Franck Kessie, but the Ivorian could again be part of a shift with player’s leaving next summer.
Messi has also worn the numbers 15 and 18 at international level for Argentina – and while those numbers are occupied by Andreas Christensen and Jordi Alba at Barca, the latter of whom has been linked with an exit from the club. Indeed, the left-back has fallen behind Marcos Alonso and Alejandro Balde in the pecking order – and a proposed transfer deadline day switch to Inter broke down.
