After more than 20 years at the club, Lionel Messi to leave FC Barcelona this summer due to “structural and economic obstacles” imposed by the Spanish football championship, according to the press release issued by the Catalan club. A cataclysm in the world of the round ball and the opportunity to return to the ten greatest moments of the Argentine striker at the six Ballon d’Or at Barça.
READ ALSO: Which club for Messi?
The first goal
the May 1, 2005, Messi scored the very first goal of his long career with the Blaugrana. Faced with Albacete, on an assist from Ronaldinho, the Argentine prodigy raised the crowd at Camp Nou with a perfectly balanced lob that ended in the back of the net. The first achievement in a long series since he scored a total of 672 goals for the Catalan jersey.
GAL OF THE DAY!
Today years ago from Leo’s first goal #Messi with Barça
The rest is history … pic.twitter.com/McdZuaULHS
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) May 1, 2020
The masterpiece against Getafe
the 18 avril 2007, in the Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe, Messi entered legend by scoring a goal worthy of his idol, Diego Maradona. Starting from midfield, he eliminated four opposing players to then dribble the goalkeeper and finish the action with a flat right foot. With more than 500,000 supporters votes, this solitary raid was voted the best goal in Barça history.
And the Barça Best Goal Ever is…. pic.twitter.com/MMhis02OZg
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 28, 2019
N ° 10
the August 5, 2008, after the departure of Ronaldinho to AC Milan, Messi recovers the tunic which, from now on, characterizes him: the n ° 10. He had started his adventure with No.30 before being awarded No.19. The number 10 represents football. Messi too. It was the next logical step for the Argentinian.
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Lionel Messi and his No.10, an inseparable duo. © FCBarcelona
The C1 final in 2009
Without taking part in the meeting against Arsenal in 2006, Messi played his first Champions League final three years later, the May 27, 2009. The opportunity to mark this meeting with its mark. Against Manchester United and one of the best defenses in the world at the time, the Barça striker offers himself a technical recital. And, of his meter 70, he even manages to register the goal of the break with an uncrossed header. Enough to lose his shoe on landing and make it one of the most memorable moments of his career.
Lionel Messi has had his say on what he thinks his best goal is…
“The one in Rome in the Champions League final against Manchester United.” pic.twitter.com/9DLuDV6Psn
— Goal (@goal) October 9, 2019
The first Ballon d’Or
With his performance in the C1 final and his year in general, Messi gets his first Ballon d’Or on December 1, 2009. He finished ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, with double the votes, and two of his teammates, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. At this time, the Argentine striker is the player who holds the most Ballons d’Or in history (6): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019.
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Lionel Messi and his first Ballon d’Or in 2009. © AFP
The quadruplet against Arsenal
the 6 avril 2010, on his momentum, Messi establishes one of the greatest performances in the history of the Champions League. After the first leg (2-2), Barça crushed Arsenal in the quarter-final return with… four goals of his prodigy. Alone, the Blaugrana striker terrorizes Arsene Wenger’s team and sends his team to the last four.
10 years ago today, Lionel Messi scored FOUR goals against Arsenal in the Champions League
Try defending this pic.twitter.com/BXi2rCAhto
— Goal (@goal) April 6, 2020
The quintuplet against Leverkusen
the 7 mars 2012, Messi is doing even better than in the previous two years against Arsenal. In the round of 16 return against Bayer Leverkusen, he scored a quintupled. Five goals, each more beautiful than the next, to give Camp Nou a spectacle never before seen. A new show of strength for the man who has already established himself as one of the best players of all time.
The 91 goals
the December 31, 2012, it’s official: Messi ends the calendar year with 91 goals (79 with Barcelona, 12 with Argentina) on his counter. Insane statistics at the end of a year when he was at the forefront of Barça’s attack, as a false n ° 9. He thus erases the previous record set by the German Gert Müller (85) in 1972.
The dribble against Boateng
the May 6, 2015, Messi crushes a club, Bayern Munich, and traumatizes a defender, Jérôme Boateng. In addition to his double in the semi-final first leg of C1, the Barcelona striker literally left the German player on the buttocks with just one hook. A dribble that alone represents Messi’s impact and aura in modern football. No one can resist “La Pulga”.
Messi has history against Bayern Munich
GOODBYE JEROME BOATENG pic.twitter.com/EM7K1vkFgp
— Goal (@goal) August 14, 2020
The celebration against Real
the 23 avril 2017, during the long-awaited Clasico between Barça and Real Madrid, between Messi and Ronaldo, it is the Argentine who makes history. In additional time of the game, with the two teams tied, Messi found the loophole and completely cooled the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. An achievement followed by an iconic celebration where he removes his jersey and stands it in front of the Madrid fans.
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Lionel Messi and his legendary celebration in the Clasico against Real in 2017 © AFP
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