Barcelona Director Rejects Idea of Renaming Camp Nou After Lionel Messi

Barcelona Institutional Vice President Elena Fort dismissed suggestions of renaming Camp Nou after Lionel Messi, stating that better tribute options exist. She confirmed plans to unveil a Messi statue and updated that the renovated stadium will host 60 thousand fans this season and reach its full 105 thousand capacity by next August. Ticket prices for the Athletic Club match now range from €199 to €599.

As the discussion around Barcelona's future continues to intensify, the club’s leadership has addressed growing speculation about renaming Camp Nou after Lionel Messi. Two weeks ago, Messi quietly visited the renovated stadium for the first time since his emotional 2021 exit, sparking excitement across the fanbase. His return led sections of the Spanish media to suggest that the revamped stadium could carry his name, but Barcelona’s Institutional Vice President Elena Fort has dismissed the idea. 

Speaking to Cadena SER, Fort explained that while Messi unquestionably deserves recognition, the club believes there are better ways to honour him. Barcelona President Joan Laporta has already announced plans to build a statue of Messi outside the stadium, and Fort hinted at other tributes without giving details. Fort also updated Barcelona’s timeline for returning to Camp Nou. 

The club expects to welcome around 60,000 supporters before the end of the current season, with the full 105,000 capacity aimed for August next year. Meanwhile, rising ticket prices for the first match back at the stadium have drawn criticism. Despite Fort claiming that the pricing mirrors the structure used at Montjuic, this season’s tickets for the Athletic Club match range from 199 euros to 599 euros, significantly higher than last season’s maximum of 260 euros.