Even though they ‘don’t belong together’, superstar Lionel Messi still decided to give the 8th Golden Ball to Barca.

“Messi donated the 8th Golden Ball to the Barca museum even though he did not win that award with his old team,” freelance journalist Miquel Blazquez posted on social network X on February 20 (Hanoi time): “Messi wants All 8 Golden Balls he won during his career were together at the Nou Camp team.

Messi’s 8th career Golden Ball was won on October 30, 2023 thanks to his victory in the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.

The previous 7 Golden Balls won by the superstar born in 1987 were in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 and 2021.

Messi has a total of 8 Golden Ball wins in his career, including 2021 when playing for PSG. 

Notably, the first 6 Golden Balls Messi won as a Barca player. The 7th Golden Ball he won when he moved to PSG, but the main achievement was still his contribution to the Nou Camp owner, so it was very reasonable for this superstar to send it back to the Spanish club.

However, Messi’s 8th Golden Ball counts his achievements at PSG, Inter Miami and the Argentina team – which has nothing to do with Barca.

Lionel Messi with his 8th Golden Ball of his career. 

The fact that the 37-year-old superstar “played nice” with Barca has received many compliments. “Messi still won the title for Barca even though he left the team for three years. Truly a legend,” one fan commented.

“Every time I see news like this, my heart breaks because I remember how Messi had to leave Barca,” another person wrote, praising Messi as a gentleman.

Messi said goodbye to the Nou Camp team in the summer of 2021 when his contract expired and the team did not renew it, due to financial reasons.

Saying goodbye to the team after 21 years with the team made Messi tearfully cry at the press conference.

Until now, Barca has not been able to arrange a tribute match for him, and Messi has not had a chance to say goodbye to the Nou Camp audience.