As Barcelona and Bayern prepare for another Champions League clash, we look back at the games that Lionel Messi made unforgettable
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are set for yet another Champions League showdown. This time, though, it’s at Barcelona’s temporary home, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, as the iconic Camp Nou undergoes renovations. Bayern Munich come into the match brimming with confidence after a dominant 4-0 victory over Stuttgart, with Harry Kane netting a hat-trick and further cementing his goal-scoring prowess. The Bavarians have been in blistering form, with 24 goals in their first seven Bundesliga matches, and they will be looking to maintain this momentum in Europe.
On the other hand, Barcelona’s season has also been impressive under new coach Hansi Flick. Despite a few early hiccups, such as losses to Monaco and Osasuna, they have quickly regained their winning touch, largely thanks to the striking force of Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 12 goals in 10 LaLiga matches.
With the build-up to this classic fixture underway, it’s impossible to think about Barcelona’s rich history in the Champions League without recalling the man who has made this competition his playground—Lionel Messi.
Messi’s records in the Champions League are genuinely remarkable. He holds the record for the most group-stage goals (80), the most round-of-16 goals (29), and the most goals for a single club (120). He also boasts 18 successive seasons scoring in the competition. The upcoming match against Bayern reminds us of the glorious nights when Messi owned the European stage, delivering moments of sheer magic that left fans, players, and pundits in awe.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and relive three games that are all about Messi.
It was 2009 in Rome, the grand stage of the Champions League final, and Barcelona were up against a formidable Manchester United side. Amidst the brilliance of that Barça team, one moment stole the show—Messi’s improbable header over Rio Ferdinand. Not known for his aerial prowess, Messi soared like a bird and nodded in the second goal, sealing a 2-0 victory for Barcelona.
The sight of Messi leaping to outsmart Ferdinand, a towering figure, was a perfect symbol of his versatility and unpredictability. Barcelona’s triumph in Rome marked the beginning of Messi’s rise to global superstardom, and the Champions League became his favourite stage.
Fast forward two years to Wembley, and once again, Messi and Barcelona were up against Manchester United in the final. This time, Messi didn’t just score; he produced a masterpiece. With the score at 1-1, Messi unleashed a stunning long-range strike from outside the box that flew past Edwin van der Sar. It was a moment that tilted the match firmly in Barcelona’s favour.
Barcelona won 3-1, and Messi was named Man of the Match. His performance in that game remains one of the greatest displays in a Champions League final, a testament to his ability to turn the tide with a single touch of brilliance.
Perhaps one of Messi’s most iconic moments came in the 2015 semifinal against Bayern Munich. With the match still tightly poised, Messi decided to take matters into his own hands. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he dribbled past Jerome Boateng, leaving the Bayern defender in a heap on the ground, and then delicately chipped Manuel Neuer to score.
Barcelona won 3-0, and Messi’s dazzling run became the talk of the football world. The image of Boateng stumbling to the floor has since become legendary, immortalising Messi’s extraordinary dribbling skills.
