Tears, standing ovation mark Messi's farewell to Barcelona

Soccer Football - Lionel Messi holds an FC Barcelona press conference - 1899 Auditorium, Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - August 8, 2021 Lionel Messi during the press conference REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Between trying to compose himself, wiping away tears and facing a long standing ovation, it took Lionel Messi more than a minute to start his farewell news conference on Sunday at FC Barcelona, where the Argentine has spent all of his playing career.

"I don't know if I am going to be able to speak," were his first words, tears running down his cheeks.