Lionel Messi is once again a central figure in Barcelona’s upcoming presidential elections, with challenger Víctor Font criticizing incumbent Joan Laporta for supposedly exploiting the Argentine star’s name for political gain.
Club legend Lionel Messi has once again found himself at the “epicenter of political upheaval” at Barcelona, as his name is being used for points scoring ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, set for the end of the 2025–26 campaign.
The Inter Miami captain’s potential return is forming a large part of the political discourse in the city.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated (SI) FC, challenging candidate Víctor Font has derided the current incumbent, Joan Laporta, for the supposed exploitation of the Argentine.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Font admitted that Messi’s return to Catalonia would “give me goosebumps,” but quickly added: “what we shouldn’t do is try to exploit him.”
He directly targeted Laporta, claiming: “I think Laporta has done it, and he’s done it many times, and I think he’s done it wrong.”
Font pointed to the 2021 campaign as “The most recent and obvious instance,” when Laporta heavily hinted at keeping the talisman, only for Messi to join Paris Saint-Germain months later.
Font huffed, “It’s yet another example of a broken promise, and I believe Messi shouldn’t be used.”
Despite this, Font then utilized the player’s name himself, declaring: “But Messi needs to know that the first thing I’ll do when I win the elections is pick up the phone and call him. It will be the first phone call I make.” Font further stated:
“We have to embrace Leo Messi and do everything possible so that, as soon as possible, Leo Messi has the role at Barça that… all Barça fans would be thrilled about.”