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I’ve always said that my dream was to finish my career at Barcelona, but sometimes things don’t go as you’d like.

Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini

2021 emotional farewell press conference upon leaving FC Barcelona · Gecheckt op 15 maart 2026
I’ve always said that my dream was to finish my career at Barcelona, but sometimes things don’t go as you’d like.

Analyse

Video recordings and multiple news reports from the 8 August 2021 press conference quote Messi saying, "I have always said that my dream was to finish my career at Barcelona, but sometimes things don’t go as you’d like." The wording varies slightly across outlets, but the core sentiment matches the statement. No credible source contradicts this attribution.

Achtergrond

After FC Barcelona announced they could not register Messi due to financial fair play constraints, Messi held an emotional press conference announcing his departure. He reflected on his lifelong ambition to end his playing days at the club, acknowledging that circumstances prevented it.

Samenvatting verdict

Messi indeed said he had always dreamed of finishing his career at Barcelona during his August 2021 farewell press conference.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— BBC Sport – "Lionel Messi: Barcelona farewell press conference transcript" (8 August 2021)
— The Guardian – "Messi's emotional goodbye to Barcelona" (9 August 2021)
— ESPN – "Messi says he always wanted to finish his career at Barca" (8 August 2021)