The Argentinian superstar and Barcelona’s President parted ways on very bad terms, so much so that Messi does not want anything to do with him, much less pay tribute to him, until Joan is out of the door for good. Messi and his camp will wait until the club that gave him so much is being run by someone else and the stadium is finished before returning to say a proper goodbye. And who knows, he could even come back to represent the club as an ambassador. He left under a cloud of silence, in the midst of the pandemic and betrayed by a president who had guaranteed his place on the team.

His departure was somewhat rushed and ill-considered, with both him and his family failing to really adjust to life in the French capital. On a professional level, he had to adapt to a new league and a special club, and in his personal life to a new city, language, climate and culture; challenges that he struggled to overcome. He is now happy at Inter Miami. Together with the Three Musketeers - Busquets, Alba and Suarez - he is enjoying football at a more relaxed pace and is regarded as a god.

He will keep playing until his legs won’t let him or until he is mentally unable to continue giving his all on the pitch. For the moment he remains focussed on competing at the highest level and, well aware of his age, is really taking care of himself physically, following his nutritionist’s recommendations and getting enough rest to ensure his body runs like a well-oiled machine.