Barcelona president did not meet Lionel Messi at the FIFA Best Awards ceremony

On Monday night, former Barcelona captain and club legend Lionel Messi added another personal accolade to his cabinet as the PSG superstar won the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year 2022 Award.

The 35-year-old’s triumph came after he led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December last year. He defeated current PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe, and Real Madrid duo Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, among others, to the prestigious award.

Leading up to the ceremony in Paris on Monday, there had been talks of Messi crossing paths with Barcelona president Joan Laporta at the ceremony.

The Barça supremo was part of the club contingent that had travelled along with Femeni superstar Alexia Putellas, who won the Best Women’s Player of the Year Award at the Gala.

However, according to RAC1, there was no meeting between Laporta and Messi in Paris at the FIFA Best Awards Gala.

Given that both Laporta and Messi were present at the event, there had been chatter about the two possibly meeting each other. A grainy photograph of the Argentina captain greeting someone who resembled Laporta was also doing the rounds on the internet last night.

But, it has been since clarified that the two individuals did not meet at the event.

The talk of the potential meeting was sparked because Laporta had a chat with Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, recently, to discuss a possible return to the club for the 35-year-old.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season and even though talks over an extension have been held, there is no guarantee that Messi will sign a new deal.

Barcelona, for their part, are understood to be keen on a reunion. But the club’s financial situation with regard to La Liga’s FFP rules could become a major hurdle.