Lionel Messi gets stand named after him at huge stadium despite never playing for club

A huge stand at a 50,000-capacity stadium has been renamed in honour of Lionel Messi despite him never playing for the club in question. Messi is widely regarded as the greatest footballer in history, having won a record eight Ballon d'Ors. He won almost every available trophy during his time at Barcelona but found things harder at PSG before joining Inter Miami two years ago.

Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, marking their first triumph on the global stage in 36 years. He is also a two-time Copa America winner and is worshipped by the people of his native land. A top-flight club in Argentina have gone a step further by renaming a stand after Messi despite the 38-year-old never making an appearance for them.

Newell's Old Boys shared pictures of their new stand on Instagram alongside the following caption: "Our home. The house of football history." It features a giant No 10 emblazoned across the front of the stand with Messi's name written on the top.

Messi does have some history with Newell's Old Boys, having joined their youth academy at the age of eight. He spent five years on their books and was shaping up to become a future club legend, but he was picked up by Barcelona without ever playing a senior game.

He remains a huge fan of the club, though, having previously underlined his desire to return before the end of his career.

While at Barcelona, Messi said: "I always said I wanted to play in Argentine football one day, I don't know if it will happen but I have it in my mind.

"It would be at Newell's, nowhere else. I would like to do that for at least six months, but you never know what will happen."

Earlier this year, club president Ignacio Astore talked up the possibility of luring Messi back for a homecoming but conceded that any decision will rest with the player himself.

"It's something he has to decide," Astore told TyC Sports. "I haven't spoken to the player. I don't think it's appropriate to speak to him because it would put him in an awkward position.

"Maybe he has a contract, maybe he feels it's not the right time, maybe he has other family commitments. I know the appreciation he has for the institution and how much he wants to come."

Astore also revealed that Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina Football Association, is another figure campaigning for the return of Messi to his homeland.

"He's constantly working on this," explained Astore in a separate interview. "Messi is missing a Copa Argentina, a Copa Sudamericana, and a Libertadores, because he has all the other titles. It's his decision."