La Liga talk show El Chiringuito darkened the studio and sat in silence as a clock counted down to midnight when Lionel Messi’s contract at Barcelona was due to expire.

Messi’s most-recent deal at the Spanish club was signed in November 2017 and ran out at the end of June 30 – Wednesday night.

🚨"MESSI ya NO es JUGADOR del BARÇA"🚨

‼️Tremendo inicio de @jpedrerol en #ChiringuitoMessi pic.twitter.com/GPP6OsVxfJ

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) June 30, 2021

The star player, now 34 and still considered by many to be the best in the world, has been with Barcelona since 2001, having first joined when he was just 13.

With minutes remaining until midnight, dramatic presenter Josep Pedrerol was shown with his phone out in front of the big screen countdown.