Lionel Messi unexpectedly returned to Barcelona on Monday, to celebrate Xavi's 42nd birthday alongside his former teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Coach Lionel Scaloni did not call Messi for the Argentina squad that faces Chile and Colombia in the World Cup qualifiers later this week, because the "Tango" team qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

"Bulga" took advantage of this vacation to return to the city that witnessed his brilliance and made his name to be one of the greatest players in the history of the round witch.

Messi and his colleagues went to a Japanese restaurant in the city in a secret way, but soon the news spread that he had returned to the city and a number of Barcelona supporters waited outside to greet him as he left the restaurant.

The 34-year-old stopped to sign the shirts of his old club to a number of fans who were eagerly waiting for him.

🍽️ Messi abandona el restaurante de Barcelona junto a su mujer y su excompañero @5sergiob

✒️ Firma incluso camisetas del @FCBarcelona

đź“ą @victor_nahee

đź“» #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/zDqrGu2jaf

— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) January 24, 2022

Messi's week of rest comes after his return to the Paris Saint-Germain squad after he was infected with the Corona virus on the second of this month.

He participated in the 63rd minute as a substitute in Saint-Germain's 4-0 victory over Reims last Sunday.

Xavi is leading Barcelona's efforts to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Barcelona is currently ranked fifth in the La Liga standings, and is only one point away from fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, which it faces this weekend.

The Parisian team leads the French League, and is currently 11 points ahead of Nice, and the two teams meet in the French Cup next Monday.