Next summer will mark five years since Lionel Messi's emotional departure from FC Barcelona, a period that will also determine whether the Qatar 2022 World Cup champion can lead Argentina to a historic repeat in the tri-nation tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Should he secure a second consecutive World Cup title, it will be virtually impossible to argue against the Argentine maestro as the greatest of all time, surpassing icons like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and even his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading international goalscorer, is also strongly favored to play in his record sixth World Cup, a monumental feat that, along with Messi's participation, will solidify their unparalleled longevity in football history.

Monumental Statue Tribute for Messi in Barcelona

Messi is also in a position to continue extending his own record for the number of World Cup matches played, although that milestone is still many months in the future. Currently, he is focusing on international duty, including preparing for an upcoming match against Angola in the 11 de Novembro Stadium, part of the country's 50th independence celebrations.

The most defining moment of his week, however, was an unexpected visit to his old stomping grounds. The FIFA World Cup champion took time to check in on the massive renovation efforts underway at Camp Nou, the stadium he called home and where he conquered every possible trophy.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta admitted the visit was a total surprise, but he eagerly confirmed that the club is committed to giving Messi a tribute worthy of the best player in the club's 126-year history. Barcelona is taking a careful, long-term approach to this homecoming. While a proper tribute event is expected to be held once Camp Nou's extensive renovations are fully complete, Laporta is keen to expedite the erection of a statue to immortalize the Argentine outside the new stadium.

"We are working on that," Laporta commented. "He should have a statue at Spotify Camp Nou, like [Johan] Cruyff and [László] Kubala. We, as Barça fans, would love the fact of having a statue to honor Lionel Messi in the new stadium, where all Barça legends lay."

Messi's Unrivaled Legacy: The Definitive Barcelona Records

That spectacular tribute event will likely come after Barcelona's presidential elections, which are anticipated to be called before the end of the current season. Messi's identity is inextricably linked to the club he joined as a boy and where he blossomed into a global superstar.

His final official statistics from his staggering run with FC Barcelona are the clearest testament to his genius. Across all official competitions, Messi finished his tenure with: the most games played (778), the most goals scored (672), and the most titles won in the history of the club (35). He is by far the most prominent figure in the history of Catalan football.