Messi returns to Barcelona

Paris Saint-Germain star, Lionel Messi, on Monday night, made a surprise return to Barcelona, where he celebrated Barca manager Xavi Hernandez’s 42nd birthday alongside former teammates, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

Messi was recently left out of the Argentina squad to face Chile and Colombia in World Cup qualifiers.

His country’s place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year is all but secured, so he made the most of his free time by jetting back to Barcelona, where he made his name as one of the greatest football players of all time.

Messi and co-headed to a Japanese restaurant in Barcelona city, but word soon spread that he was back in town.

Some Barcelona supporters waited outside to greet him when he was leaving.

Messi stopped to sign shirts of his old club for the fans after departing Xavi’s birthday meal.

The Argentine captain was a former teammate with Xavi during his time at Camp Nou.