Leo Messi touched base in Barcelona on Tuesday despite not being required to show his face for pre-season until 4th August.
The Argentine striker stopped off there to acclimatize a little before journeying on to the Portuguese city of Porto on Friday, where he is scheduled to take part in Deco's testimonial.
The match will pit Porto's 2004 Champions League winners against Barcelona's 2006 European champions, as Deco played for both teams. Ronaldinho and Eto'o, together with Messi, will be the stars of the showdown.
Bar any last-minute surprises, the teams will be coached by Frank Rikjaard and José Mourinho, both of whom played a big part in some memorable Champions League clashes.
Editorial@sandiegored.com
