Messi’s Strategic Comeback: The Bold Bet That Could Shape Barca’s Presidential Race

The Plan Behind the Promises

Mark Siria, a possible Barcelona president candidate, presented a bold project to convert Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s legend now with Inter Miami, into a strategic partner for the club. He disclosed his candidacy for the presidency, scheduled to run between March 15 and June 15, 2026.

According to the Spanish outlet Sport, Siria visited the publication to discuss his plan and how it could win the trust of Barça members.

Messi as a Strategic Asset

Siria described Messi as a multinational brand whose success the club should study and leverage. He stressed that this is not just about inviting Messi to a casual gathering, but about delivering a genuine project where Messi acts as a strategic partner in all areas to urgently boost revenue.

He added that Messi’s inner circle and decision-makers have a plan he has proposed in 2021, 2023 and 2025 to embed Messi as a comprehensive strategic partner across the business, marketing and sports operations.

He noted: We are currently at 994 million in revenue. In 2017-2018, with what he calls the worst board in club history, we reached 990 million. Adjusted for inflation, Barça should be around 1.2 billion today. If Messi is a strategic element for the present and the future, the club’s ownership model can be protected; otherwise we may not fully grasp the sports business.

Will Messi return as a Barça player? That decision rests with the technical leadership in agreement with Messi; it is a possibility that could evolve over time.

He added that he hopes Messi finishes his career at Barça, but if that is not possible, Messi could serve as an institutional and commercial figure who provides essential resources for the club.

Asked whether he had heard back from Messi, Siria smiled and replied that an answer would come later. Details will be prepared, and he is confident Messi would want to return to Barça, while Barça itself needs Messi.

The piece closes by noting that the campaign centers on Messi as a strategic asset to safeguard the club’s ownership model and revenue trajectory.

Punchline time: if Messi signs, expect an instant assist for Barca’s balance sheet. And if the plan works, the fans will say their vote was a no-brainer — even the stadium lights will cheer in Messi’s name.