"He deserves a farewell ceremony that reflects his greatness at FC Barcelona." Pedri said it plainly, and he's right — Messi left Camp Nou in tears in 2021 because the club couldn't make the finances work, and one of the greatest players who ever lived never got a proper send-off from the fans who adored him most.
The Barcelona midfielder spoke to DSports this week, and the admiration ran deep. "For me, Messi is the best player in history. I know some people have different opinions, but based on what I have seen myself, no one comes close." Eight Ballon d'Or wins. A World Cup. A career that reshaped what a footballer could be. Pedri didn't need stats to make the case — he just said what most people already think.
One season, and it still shaped him
Pedri broke into the first team just before Messi departed for PSG, which means their shared time at the club amounted to a single season. He felt every bit of it. "I was lucky to play alongside him for a full year, but that year felt too short. I wish I could have spent many more years with him."
That's not just sentiment. Playing alongside Messi at 18 or 19 — learning to read his movement, his positioning, his decision-making in tight spaces — is the kind of education no academy can replicate. You can hear in Pedri's words that he knows exactly what he missed out on.
The admiration goes beyond the pitch, too. Pedri revealed that he's supported Argentina in international tournaments whenever Spain has been knocked out, and that his club allegiance in Argentina sits with Newell's Old Boys — solely because Messi grew up there. It's a level of devotion that most fans would recognize.
El Clasico looms, Messi's era closes
The timing of all this has a certain weight to it. Messi recently played his final match for Argentina after announcing his international retirement in September. He's now fully focused on Inter Miami and MLS. That chapter is closed.
Meanwhile, Pedri is preparing for Sunday's El Clasico against Real Madrid — the match that defines Barcelona's season more than almost any other fixture. With Hansi Flick's side in strong form, the result will do more to shape La Liga title odds than any transfer or tactical tweak. A win would send a statement; a loss would invite uncomfortable questions.
The man Pedri idolizes won't be watching from the stands at Camp Nou. But the least Barcelona could do, eventually, is give him one last afternoon there.
