Soccer icon Lionel Messi fights back tears as he bids a painful farewell to FC Barcelona.
PAU BARRENA / AFP - Getty ImagesSoccer icon Lionel Messi fought back tears Sunday as he bid a painful farewell to FC Barcelona.
Thursday. The Catalan giants' dire financial situation and the stringent rules of the Spanish league made it impossible for him to stay despite the wishes of both parties. Despite his advancing age, Messi remains a highly productive player in one of the world's most elite leagues, having scored 30 goals in 30 matches last season.
Messi said Sunday he would go on playing"as long as I go on being competitive and as long as my body responds." He had appeared set to stay at Barcelona, with Spanish media reporting that the two sides had agreed to a new five-year deal involving a 50 percent pay cut.
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