Barcelona president Joan Laporta has recently confirmed the door will always be open for Lionel Messi to come back to the club.
Leo’s contract with Inter Miami expires on 31 December 2025 but he could return much sooner.
In any way, Messi could return to Barca in the near future so a number of key players in the team now will still be contracted to the club.
Even if Leo isn’t an automatic starter by then, let’s imagine how Barca could line up with him if he comes back for one last gig within three years.
Option 1: 4-2-3-1
Messi can attract a big-name Argentine player to Barca if he eventually returns for his last dance. That player may well be his strike partner at the World Cup - Julian Alvarez.
If that happens, Barca can set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Messi playing behind Alvarez in the number 10 role. Pedri and Frenkie De Jong will be the spine of the team in midfield playing the no.8 and no. 6 roles respectively.
Barca XI: Ter Stegen; Balde, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde; Pedri, De Jong; Fati, Messi, Raphinha; Alvarez
Ansu Fati and Raphinha will provide the width for this team while Messi dictates the pace and delivers the best service in the final third.
It's easy to guess what the back four will look like. Alejandro Balde will rise to become one of the best left-fullbacks in the world. Jules Kounde may earn that same reputation if he continues to play right-back. Although it’s not his preferred position, the Frenchman vows to fight for his place at Blaugrana.
That leaves the centre-back position up to Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen who have proven to be rock solid and technically gifted so far.
Option 2: 4-3-3
Barcelona can make one more attempt to sign a marquee striker in 2025 when Erling Haaland is bored of breaking records in England. They already tried and failed to sign Haaland in 2022 and nothing stops the Blaugrana from trying again when their financial troubles are put behind them.
If Barca can pull off a sensational move to sign Haaland, Messi will be greeted by one of the most lethal finishers in the game when he arrives at Camp Nou that winter.
Barca XI: Ter Stegen; Balde, Christensen, Araujo, Kounde; Pedri, De Jong, Gavi; Messi, Haaland, Fati
It's tough to name a player who excels at right-wing better than Messi. Imagine the endless possibilities of Leo playing there with Haaland receiving killer passes from that wicked left boot of the Argentine.
Barca's midfield core remains solid but Xavi can tinker however he likes. We pick Pedri, Gavi and De Jong in this case. The defence is anyone's guess.
Option 3: 4-1-4-1
It's also possible that Barca are still struggling to drag themselves out of their financial quagmire by the time Leo makes his much-awaited return. In that case, top players like Alvarez and Haaland may still be out of reach economically.
Enter Vitor Roque. Nothing stops the Brazilian teenage sensation from being among the most clinical centre-forwards in Europe in the next three years. He'd perform much better if he plays with Messi after being mentored by Robert Lewandowski.
Barca XI: Balde, Araujo, Kounde, Fresneda; Frenkie, Gavi, Pedri, Raphinha; Messi, Vitor Roque
Barca can field four midfielders in this system with Leo as one of them. Gavi, Pedri and De Jong will all get a chance to win on the pitch with Messi.
Perhaps Kounde will eventually get his wish of playing at centre-back. For that to happen, Barca must sign a right-back if Julian Araujo doesn't come through. They're more likely to go for someone young and talented like Ivan Fresneda who everyone has been talking about lately.
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