It’s going to really feel bizarre. Even Lionel Messi admitted it.

La Liga is kicking off a brand new season, however for the primary time since 2003 there can be no Messi suiting up for perennial energy FC Barcelona. His contract with the membership expired on June 30, making him a free agent, however the monetary troubles of the cash-strapped membership meant Barcelona couldn’t add him again to the roster for the upcoming season on account of league roster guidelines.

Messi is a hero and membership icon, developed in Barcelona’s well-known La Masia academy, and he’ll ceaselessly occupy legendary standing within the membership. However star gamers come and go on a regular basis from prime groups world wide, together with from FC Barcelona. The subsequent stars are certain to step as much as start to fill the void. Messi advised followers as a lot in his tearful farewell information convention:

MORE: Explaining why Lionel Messi left Barcelona

“Barca are probably the greatest groups on the earth, they’ve an incredible facet,” he stated. “Extra gamers will come, not simply now however sooner or later. Gamers come and go. As (Barcelona president Joan) Laporta stated, nobody individual comes earlier than the membership. At first, it is going to be bizarre, however individuals will get used to it.”

One of many areas by which Messi’s absence can be instantly observed is within the goal-scoring division: He has received the La Liga Pichichi top-scorer title for every of the final 5 seasons, and eight general. Different forwards across the league are lastly getting into a season with actual hope of claiming the celebrated crown. The listing of sportsbook favorites to take over for Messi follows beneath.

Easy methods to watch La Liga in USA

All 380 matches of the 2021-2022 La Liga season can be streamed in English and Spanish on ESPN+, kicking off the primary of eight years of unique protection in the USA. Choose matches may even be aired on ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

• Dates: Aug. 13, 2021-Might 22, 2022
• Matches: Complete of 380 league matches in 2021-2022
• Streaming: ESPN+ (all matches in English & Spanish)
• TV Channels: ABC, ESPN (choose matches)
• Spanish-language TV: ESPN Deportes (choose matches)

La Liga prime scorer favorites

Two U.S.-based sportsbooks have odds on the gamers to complete as prime scorers within the 2021-2022 La Liga season. Actual Madrid middle ahead, 33-year-old Karim Benzema, who completed second behind Messi in every of the final three seasons, is the favourite to win the Pichichi award. Barcelona’s Memphis Depay and Atletico Madrid’s Luis Suarez should not too far behind.