Barcelona stars pay tribute to Messi as he bids farewell to club | Football News | Al Jazeera

Stars salute the Argentinian football legend on social media as he tearfully confirms his departure from Barcelona.

Current and former Barcelona stars have paid tribute to Lionel Messi on social media after he confirmed that he was leaving Barcelona following 17 years of trophy-laden success at the club.

“I have still not come to terms with the reality of leaving this club now – I love this club,” said Messi, who several times wiped away tears before a squadron of reporters at the club’s Camp Nou ground who gave him a standing ovation on Sunday.

Messi, widely considered the most gifted player in the history of the game, has won 35 trophies at the club which he joined as a 13-year-old – including four Champions Leagues and 10 league titles while his 672 goals are a record for any of the top five European leagues.

Former Barcelona and England star Gary Lineker was one of the first ones to react to the news, praising the Argentinian’s legacy on Sunday.

“So sad watching a clearly very emotional Lionel Messi having to say goodbye to @FCBarcelona,” tweeted Lineker, who spent three seasons with the Catalan giants in the late 1980s, winning a Spanish Cup and a Cup Winners Cup.

“No player in the history of the sport has given so much joy, so many unforgettable moments, so much success to one club,” said Lineker.

So sad watching a clearly very emotional Lionel Messi having to say goodbye to @FCBarcelona. No player in the history of the sport has given so much joy, so many unforgettable moments, so much success to one club.

— Gary Lineker