Lionel Messi could return to Newell’s Old Boys in 2027, vice-president confirms

Lionel Messi could be set for a fairytale return to his boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys in 2027 after the Argentine side’s vice-president confirmed plans to try to bring him back to Rosario.

Messi spent around six years in Newell’s youth system after joining the club at the age of six. He later moved to Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, where he developed into one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game.

Now 38, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is nearing the final stage of his playing career at Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. Despite this, Newell’s vice-president Juan Manuel Medina believes there is still a chance to convince Messi to return home and finish his career with the club where it all began.

“We are working on Leo playing for Newell’s in the first half of 2027,” Medina told Argentine outlet TN. “This is a project that goes beyond Newell’s. It is a project for the city of Rosario, the province and Argentine football.”

Medina added that the plan would depend on the club’s ability to offer strong facilities and a competitive sporting project. “Everything depends on what we can offer in terms of infrastructure and a competitive sports programme,” he said.

Messi renewed his contract with Inter Miami last October, with the deal running until the end of 2028. While this could make a move difficult, Messi has previously said it would be his “dream” to return to Newell’s before retiring. He spoke openly about this ambition in an interview in 2017.

Newell’s have long treated Messi as a club icon despite his limited senior appearances for the team. A stand at their home stadium, the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, has been named in his honour. The ground itself is named after the former Argentina and Leeds United manager.

In February 2024, Messi returned to Rosario to face Newell’s in a friendly match while playing for Inter Miami. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and attracted significant attention from fans and media across Argentina.

Messi will turn 39 in June and is expected to captain Argentina at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, although he has yet to confirm whether he will take part in the tournament.

Across his career, Messi has collected almost every major trophy available. He has won league titles in both Spain and France, lifted the Champions League four times, claimed two Copa América titles and finally secured the World Cup with Argentina.

He most recently lifted the MLS Cup in 2025 and became the first player in Major League Soccer history to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons.