The curious ‘Harry Potter’ pen beside Lionel Messi’s farewell letter

A small Harry Potter reference drew attention alongside Lionel Messi’s handwritten farewell letter to Argentina’s national team: a gold pen topped with a replica of the saga’s Time-Turner.

The Time-Turner, a magical object in J.K. Rowling’s universe, allows its user to travel back one hour with each turn of its concentric rings. Its best-known appearance comes in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” when Hermione Granger uses it to attend multiple classes and alter important events. The accessory reportedly sells for about $22 and has become a sought-after collectible among fans of the franchise.

The choice of pen was presented as consistent with Messi’s well-known interest in Harry Potter. He has repeatedly shared images of his children wearing Hogwarts robes and themed footwear, as well as pictures of the family watching the films during their free time.

The Time-Turner on the pen carries six stars. The article links them to Messi’s six titles with Argentina: the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2005 Under-20 World Cup.

Fans gave the detail a poetic reading, interpreting it as a possible wish to turn back time, relive Argentina’s golden era or change the ending of Messi’s last tournament. The symbolic object accompanied the definitive close of his national-team career.