Barca’s Rising Star Steps Into Messi’s Jersey for a Saudi Super Cup Clasico
9 January 2026
Key Update: Bardagi Earns First‑Team Status
Ronny Bardagi, Barcelona’s young winger, is poised to wear one of Lionel Messi’s iconic shirts—the jersey he wore during his legendary Barça years—marking a symbolic bridge between past and present. The club announced on Friday that the Swedish forward has officially become a regular member of the first team, moving from number 28 to 19, a change that will take effect starting with the Super Cup final.
What This Means for Barca and the Super Cup
Barcelona will face Real Madrid in another Clasico, this time at the Enmaa Stadium on Sunday evening, in a match to be streamed on Eight, the exclusive broadcaster of the Roshen Saudi Pro League. Mundo Deportivo notes that Bardagi’s rise to the first team comes on the back of a standout semifinal, where Barça trounced Athletic Bilbao 5-0. Bardagi himself scored one goal and contributed to three others as his teammates, Rafinha and Fermín López, found the net.
The youngster joined Barça last summer from Copenhagen for about €2 million and was initially registered with Barça B due to sporting-financial constraints. Under coach Hansi Flick, Bardagi has appeared 14 times for the first team, scoring two goals, and his upward trajectory has impressed everyone around the club.
Further reporting from Mundo Deportivo indicated that only a small amount remained to officially register Bardagi with the first team after Andreas Christensen’s injury, with Barcelona moving quickly to settle the last hurdle. The No. 19 shirt finally became available after Lamine Yamal chose to wear No. 10 this summer, opening the door for Bardagi to wear a number previously donned by legends such as Lionel Messi or Patrick Kluivert.
Two quick notes are always welcome: first, that the fixture on Sunday is a high-stakes showcase for a budding star; second, that the Eight app is banking on a strong broadcast to bring the action to fans across the region.
In a world where a jersey can symbolize a turning point, Bardagi’s No. 19 could become the talisman Barcelona needs as they navigate the post-Messi era with a blend of youth and experience. And if Bardagi delivers on the pitch, the club’s fanbase might just start petitions to rename the museum after the very moment this jersey began its new story.
And as Mundo Deportivo reminds us, Bardagi’s ascent comes with a performance-driven reason and a reminder that a good shirt number is sometimes the difference between “youth project” and “season starter.”
Finally, two light lines to end on: If Bardagi nails No. 19, Messi might demand a personal guard for the museum statue. And if Real Madrid can solve their defense as cleanly as Barca plans to solve this riddle, we’ll all need popcorn for the post-match drama.
