Laporta’s stroke seals Barca’s historic 19th straight title win!
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was reelected after beating Victor Font on Sunday and will lead the club until 2031 (Josep LAGO) Joan Laporta was reelected as Barcelona president on Sunday, defeating Victor Font to stay in charge of the Catalan giants until 2031. The charismatic 63-year-old, who also beat out Font in the 2021 election, will reclaim his position in July after resigning a few weeks ago as part of the electoral process. Around 42 percent of Barcelona club members voted -- translating to 48,480 votes.
Laporta triumphed by 68. 18 percent to Font's 29. 78 percent.
"We're sad, we were really hopeful and it's a pity -- we congratulate Laporta," Font told reporters, admitting defeat before the final count was in. Laporta previously led the club between 2003-2010, in arguably Barcelona's golden era, during which they won the treble with Pep Guardiola at the helm in 2009. Several Barcelona first-team players and coach Hansi Flick headed to vote after the team's 5-2 victory over Sevilla earlier on, with Laporta joining them at the ballot boxes.
Former Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets, three-time women's Ballon d'Or winner and star of Barca Femeni Aitana Bonmati and former player and coach Xavi Hernandez were among other club members casting votes. Voting booths were set up at Camp Nou, as well as other Catalan cities Girona, Tarragona and Lleida, and in Andorra. Laporta was seen celebrating long before the votes were counted, as well as dancing with Barca players after their emphatic win at Camp Nou.
The lawyer, who was elected in 2021 after pledging to keep superstar Lionel Messi at the club -- which he was unable to do -- helped Barca stay afloat despite inheriting a financial crisis. Laporta controversially sold off future television rights and parts of the club to generate funds to sign players including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the summer of 2022. Barca won La Liga titles in 2023 and 2025, and with coach Flick at the helm returned to the Champions League semi-finals last season for the first time since 2019.