Laporta and Messi didn't meet at The Best gala

The long-anticipated meeting between Joan Laporta and Leo Messi didn't end up hapening. At The Best gala, one of the main attractions of the event was a possible chat between the Barcelona President and the PSG star before or after the ceremony, but it wasn't to be. The Argentine, in any event, was under the spotlight after winning the main prize of player of the year, an honour that the 'Cule' club and President congratulated him for online.
The Barca 'leader' was a few rows behind the footballer, who arrived last and sat with wife Antonella, close to PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe. A fair bit away was the President seated with Mapi Leon and Alexia Putellas. The former got a spot in the World Women's XI, and the latter lifted The Best trophy, so the journey brought two bits of good news.
An important reason as to why the Camp Nou fans wanted to see their ex-number 10 speaking to Laporta was because a possible return has been rumoured several times since he landed in Paris. If there was a real possibility of it happening, what better way than a direct talk, but it wasn't to be, which blows more cold air on what was an already unlikely return to Spain.
In fact, it seems more logical he'll sign for Newell's to end his career. At least, that's where the Argentinian press are thinking he'll go, as several journalists are claiming that a tribute match for Maxi Rodriguez would serve as a way to make contact with the man from Rosario to open the door to a possible return to his roots to finish off a stellar career.