FC Barcelona and Xavi Hernández are going through what relationship therapists might call an irreconcilable breakdown. The club has reportedly barred its legendary former midfielder and manager from participating in its legends team, a move that lands squarely at the intersection of sporting legacy and presidential politics.

The trigger: Xavi’s vocal support for Victor Font, who is challenging incumbent president Joan Laporta in the club’s upcoming presidential elections.

From midfield maestro to political exile

In May 2024, Laporta dismissed Xavi as Barcelona’s head coach, citing performance issues. Laporta later doubled down by pointing to the results achieved by Xavi’s successor, Hansi Flick, as vindication.

In early March 2026, Xavi publicly accused Laporta of blocking Lionel Messi’s potential return to Barcelona for political reasons. Xavi then publicly endorsed Victor Font’s presidential campaign.

Laporta’s pattern with club legends

Xavi isn’t the first Barcelona icon to find himself on the wrong side of Laporta’s institutional priorities. Laporta has acknowledged making what he calls “tough decisions” regarding club legends, including Messi himself and former manager Ronald Koeman. Messi’s departure from Barcelona in 2021 remains one of the most shocking moments in modern football, with financial constraints cited as the official explanation.

It should be noted that no verified evidence has emerged to support claims of a formal ban on Xavi or other club legends participating in team-related activities.

What this means for Barcelona’s elections and beyond

Barcelona is a member-owned institution where over 140,000 socios vote for their president. Xavi’s endorsement of Victor Font carries particular weight given that he is a product of La Masia, captained the team through its most successful era, and returned to manage the club.

Xavi’s accusation that Laporta blocked Messi’s return is the kind of claim that, true or not, plants a seed of doubt with socios ahead of the presidential election.