Javier Tebas Speaks on Messi: “I Wish He’d Have Finished His Career in La Liga”

• Javier Tebas regrets Lionel Messi failed to finish his career in La Liga
• The Argentine left Barcelona in 2021 after 17 years with the Catalans
• Messi won every trophy with La Blaugrana including 10 La Liga titles

La Liga is yet to fully recover from losing Lionel Messi, three years after the Argentina superstar decided to walk away from Barcelona following the expiration of his contract.

Messi had played in the Spanish top flight for 17 seasons, winning every possible trophy including 10 league titles, but was forced to leave due to the Catalans' financial struggles.

According to Sportskeeda, La Liga president Javier Tebas has now revealed it would have been best for both Messi and Barcelona if the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner had finished his career in Spain.

"Messi did not finish his career in La Liga because Leo and FC Barcelona did not agree. I wish he could have stayed and finished his career in La Liga. It would have been the best for him, for me, and for Barcelona."

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Messi declined to make a fairy tale return to Barcelona this summer, despite the Catalan club’s interest in re-signing him, instead joining Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami.

Lionel Messi’s Barcelona legacy revealed

Messi won several individual and team trophies during the Argentina superstar's 17-year spell with Barcelona, including seven Ballon d’Or awards, per GOAL.

The 36-year-old forward won 10 La Liga titles and four UEFA Champions League titles, as well as the treble twice in his career in the 2009-10 and 2014-15 seasons.

Messi is also Barcelona's most-capped player of all time, appearing in 778 matches for the Catalans, and is also La Blaugrana's all-time highest scorer with 670 goals.

Ronaldo settles GOAT debate with Messi

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Cristiano Ronaldo settling his rivalry with Messi after what some have called the most important press conference in history.

The two veterans stayed at the top of the football food chain for 15 years, dating back to when the Portuguese forward won his first Ballon d'Or title in 2008.

Besides Ronaldo and Messi, only two others have lifted the most coveted individual prize in football since - Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.