Barcelona claimed their 29th La Liga crown on Sunday night, and their greatest ever player, Lionel Messi, took to social media to congratulate his former club with a simple message: “Campeones!!! Visca el Barça!!!”
Barça were able to clinch the title by beating Clásico rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou, extending their winning run in the top flight to 11 games. A sensational Marcus Rashford free kick set the hosts on their way against a Madrid team merely focussed on not brawling one another, then Ferran Torres rounded off a flowing team move to double Barça’s lead in the first half.
Dani Olmo’s flick, which presented Torres with a glorious opening, was Messi-esque, and the Argentine was doubtless tuned in to Sunday’s ongoings in Catalonia after dazzling in Inter Miami‘s 4–2 victory over Toronto FC the previous day.
The reigning MLS Cup holders sit third in the Eastern Conference, having won half of their first 12 games. Messi, meanwhile, has 12 goal contributions in 11 outings, including nine goals. He remains in fine form heading into his sixth World Cup, which he hasn’t fully committed to yet.
Lionel Messi’s Social Media Response to Barcelona’s La Liga Triumph
Past and present. | Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Woeful financial mismanagement forced Messi out of Barcelona after 21 blissful years in 2021. The Argentine certainly didn’t want to leave Catalonia, but there was no bad blood. It’s a city he adores, and a club that helped him blossom into an all-time great.
Thus, Messi still relishes the Blaugrana’s triumphs. After his former club sealed the La Liga title on a rather novel occasion as their fiercest competitive rivals were the defeated opposition, the 38-year-old posted an image of Flick’s squad on his Instagram story with the words: “Campeones!!! Visca el Barça!!!”
For those who haven’t yet dabbled with Catalan on Duolingo, that translates into: “Champions!!! Long live Barça!!!”
How Many Trophies Have Barcelona Won Since Lionel Messi Left?
Barça have won back-to-back La Liga titles. | Javier Borrego/Europa Press/Getty Images
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner claimed a whopping 34 major honors with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles. Messi’s Barça retained their crown on multiple occasions, and the Argentine left in 2021 having helped the Blaugrana conquer the continent four times.
Champions League glory has continued to elude Barça since Messi‘s exit, with Flick’s side following last season’s cruel semifinal exit with a disappointed quarterfinal elimination at the hands of domestic rivals Atlético Madrid.
Still, that wasn‘t enough to dampen the mood in Catalonia on Sunday night. This was their third La Liga title celebration in a post-Messi world, having won their first with the Argentine‘s former teammate, Xavi Hernández, in 2023. Barcelona also have a Copa del Rey to their name and three Spanish Super Cups.
Flick, who has said this job will be his last in soccer management, won’t be satisfied until Barça are recognized as Europe‘s finest again. His team are close.
READ THE LATEST BARCELONA NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC
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