Lionel Messi gets the tribute Cristiano Ronaldo never has — Newell’s Old Boys honors its prodigal son on his 38th birthday with a special gift

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On his 38th birthday, Lionel Messi achieved something deeply personal—something that not even his greatest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has managed.

Lionel Messi’s name is already etched into soccer history through his glittering career and countless records. But on his 38th birthday, the Argentinian icon achieved something deeply personal—something that not even his greatest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has managed. Messi has been immortalized by his boyhood club, Newell’s Old Boys, in a gesture that speaks to both nostalgia and legacy. 

On Tuesday, Rosario-based Newell’s Old Boys announced that one of the stands at their historic stadium would be named after Lionel Messi. The announcement marked a powerful tribute to a player who, although he left for Barcelona at the age of 13, never stopped identifying with the red-and-black of his first club. 

“Today, the Coloso writes a new page,” the club said in a post on its social media accounts. “For the first time, the two most powerful names in soccer history live under the same roof: OURS.” 

The new stand at the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa will directly face the one named after Diego Maradona, symbolizing a generational bridge between Argentina’s two greatest players. In a touching detail, the “10” on Messi’s stand will appear in the same font used by Argentina during the 2022 World Cup, where Messi captained La Albiceleste to glory. 

Messi joins legends in a stadium of memories 

The stadium, affectionately known as El Coloso, already pays tribute to former Newell’s stars. It was renamed Estadio Marcelo Bielsa in 2009 to honour the eccentric tactician who led the club to league titles. Other areas of the ground carry the names of Maxi Rodríguez and Gerardo “Tata” Martino, icons who shaped the club’s modern era. 

Now, the 38-year-old has joined that pantheon—a distinction that Cristiano Ronaldo has never received in the form of a stadium stand. While Ronaldo’s legacy is honoured through facilities like Sporting’s training centre and C.D. Nacional’s academy, Messi’s tribute places him in the heart of matchday passion, with fans watching games from a section that bears his name. 

“The bond between Messi and Newell’s is eternal,” the club shared in a statement. “He left as a boy, but he remains our son.” 

Hope that still burns bright

The Lionel Messi Stand is expected to be completed by mid-July, just in time for the Clausura Tournament. Yet beyond the concrete and steel, the dream that Messi might return to play at Newell’s still lingers in the hearts of fans. 

Club president Ignacio Astore recently fuelled speculation, suggesting that the eight time Ballon d’Or winner still harbours a deep emotional connection to the club. Whether that return becomes reality may hinge on his future at Inter Miami, where his contract runs until the end of 2025.