The football world was dealt some stunning news on Thursday night, as Lionel Messi's departure from Barcelona was confirmed - and the football Twittersphere were quick to emerge with some hilarious memes.
The best memes about Lionel Messi's Barcelona departure
Messi leaving Barcelona wasn't exactly an unheard of proposition - after all, he did ask to leave the Catalan club barely a year ago - but, for the past few weeks, contract talks had been progressing well, hence the widespread shock at the decision not to renew his contract.
Immediately, football Twitter turned it's attention to Lionel Messi memes. The best contenders revolved around potential destinations (mostly a possible reunion with Pep Guardiola at Man City), or his seeming betrayal of fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero, who Messi convinced to join Barcelona this summer.
We've rounded up the best memes surrounding Messi's imminent departure from Barca for you right here.
aguero signing for barca only to see messi leave lmao pic.twitter.com/p1VODi3bkp
— snehaaa (@sneharants) August 5, 2021
Man City representatives returning Jack Grealish to Aston Villa after hearing Messi has rejected a new contract at Barcelonapic.twitter.com/YyxCcPWnrZ
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) August 5, 2021
Pep watching Messi become a free agent during Grealish's medical pic.twitter.com/SyRjWcnV1z
— Average Striker (@AverageStriker) August 5, 2021
AS WE SAID LAST MONTH
CC Leo Messi https://t.co/4gtMTpMpQA pic.twitter.com/GVS9ZA0wd7— Longford Town FC (@LongfordTownFC) August 5, 2021
Pep Guardiola running to Sheikh Mansour asking him to cancel the Jack Grealish deal and bring in Lionel Messi instead pic.twitter.com/926zAl9PJZ
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) August 5, 2021
Sergio Aguero joining Barcelona to play with Lionel Messi and then Lionel Messi leaves pic.twitter.com/1DMNsP3IoO
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 5, 2021
Man City and PSG lawyers fighting outside Messi’s house right now pic.twitter.com/dlZxSThzNk
— BenchWarmers🇺🇦 (@BeWarmers) August 5, 2021
Aguero : “Me, you & Memphis can be the new MSN🤝”
Messi : pic.twitter.com/a4nq4ABk0b— Kam #8🏁 (@Culturecams) August 5, 2021
Barcelona fans on the TL laughing to the Messi memes and jokes. pic.twitter.com/bBTHyGtutQ
— OxIssy (@Omololu_issy) August 5, 2021
Above all, though, the social media reaction was largely affectionate towards Messi's time at the club. The six-time Ballon d'Or and four-time Champions League winner has been the centrepiece of Barcelona's football for nearly fifteen years at senior level, and his departure truly does mark the end of an era at the club.
An entire era of football has been defined by the greatness of the little playmaker from Rosario and it will undoubtedly be strange to see him in anything other than a Barcelona jersey next season.
As Gary Lineker eloquently put it, "the greatest".
The greatest. https://t.co/38tqRD4V5E
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) August 5, 2021
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