Lionel Messi is eternal love in the eyes of Barca fans and that was shown through the chants of the Argentine superstar’s name in the 10th minute of the match between Barca and Osasuna in Saudi Arabia.

The Catalan giant is present in the Middle East to participate in the Spanish Super Cup. Barca won 2-0 against Osasuna in the semi-finals  on the evening of January 11, thereby entering their name in the final, where they will meet arch-rival Real Madrid. Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal were the scorers, helping Xavi’s team win.

While a lot of attention is focused on the current stars, Barca fans will never forget the exploits of past stars. Messi, owner of 8 Golden Ball titles, is the most popular former star. The proof is that his name was sung throughout Riyadh as Blaugrana fans expressed their admiration for their greatest player of all time.

It could also be seen as a discreet mockery of Messi’s arch-rival, Cristiano Ronaldo – who currently plays for Al Nassr Club in Saudi Arabia.

Messi missed the opportunity to go to the Middle East to play after he left PSG in the summer of 2023, and also denied the possibility of returning to Camp Nou. Messi is currently playing for the Inter Miami team in the American professional league MLS. The 36-year-old star will come to Riyadh later this month to attend the Riyadh Cup friendly tournament.

Riyadh Cup is a friendly tournament between three teams, including the two host clubs of Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Inter Miami. Here, the American team will play Al Hilal on January 29, before meeting Al Nassr – Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, on February 1. Both matches took place at Kingdom Stadium in Riyadh.