‘Magisterial Messi’ as Ray Hudson would say. A fortnight ago, I watched in awe as Messi took his game to stratospheric levels when Barcelona met Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League. A couple of days back it was another terrific display against Sevilla in the La Liga. Alas it lasted a mere 15 minutes. It is only befitting that I write about Messi because for the next three to four weeks my soccer world will be devoid of joy as he recovers after breaking his arm in the match against Sevilla. Messi has had performances extraordinaire in the Champions League. It is difficult to narrow it down to a few but I will give it a try. Most of them are against the English opposition. The Manchester City nutmegs and the Bayer Leverkusen 5-goal haul just missed out on my top 5. Here are some of my favorite Champions League moments when Messi has excelled:
1. Tottenham Hotspur (Oct 3, 2018) – In his previous Champions League game, Messi had scored a hat-trick against PSV Eindhoven. In this game he was a couple of steps ahead of everyone every second of the game. In the 2nd minute a gorgeous pass to Jordi Alba was followed by a goal from Coutinho with the keeper Lloris in no man’s land. Then in the 28th minute, he scooped a beautiful pass above the defender found Suarez who controlled it off his chest. Coutinho tried to smash the ball past the goalkeeper but it was saved. Coutinho kept it in and passed it to Rakitic whose wicked volley took a deflection off the post and found the net. Rakitic’s strike was superb but Messi was the one who started it all. In the beginning of the second half, Messi evaded three defenders but hit the woodwork with the goalkeeper beaten. Then a few minutes later he glided past four defenders and in a carbon copy of the previous attempt hit the woodwork again! Was it not going to be his day in terms of goals scored? Harry Kane pulled one back for Tottenham. Messi passed wide to Alba on the left who crossed it and Suarez left it for Messi. There was only going to be one result as Messi steered his shot past Lloris and accurately this time. Spurs scored again. With a few minutes left, Suarez dummied Alba’s ball and Messi had the easiest of finishes. Messi created a couple of goals with his vision, hit the woodwork twice and scored another couple of goals. Not a bad day at work!
2. Bayern Munich (May 6, 2015) – I was at my client office in San Diego and extended my lunch break to witness an amazing performance in the semi-finals. Messi was facing his former manager, Guardiola and the best goalkeeper in the world in Manuel Neuer. Neuer had prevented Messi and Argentina from scoring in the World Cup final. The Bayern defence was proving impregnable. For 77 minutes the Bayern wall stood tall. Then Messi happened. A pass from Alves and a booming left foot strike from outside the box and Neuer beaten to the near post. The resistance was broken. Then a few minutes later magic happened. Messi received the ball from Rakitic and pulled off a juke and a jive move with Boateng landing on his back. Messi then scooped the ball over Neuer and into the net. What a finish. Then in the dying minutes, Messi provided an assist to Neymar to complete the decisive win.
3. Manchester United (May 28, 2011) – It was the final of the Champions League and I was watching it at home in Orange with my friends. The stage was set for the best player in the game to shine in the biggest game of the year and he did not disappoint. Messi was running circles around the United players but it was Pedro who scored for Barcelona. Rooney equalized from a Giggs pass. Messi came close to scoring in the beginning of the second half. Then Xavi to Iniesta to Messi and boom! Messi took a couple of steps and from about twenty yards hit a vicious shot and Van de Saar was beaten. It was a sensational strike. Then another dazzling run followed from Messi who skipped around Nani and the ball fell for Villa who curled it into the net. Barcelona were Champions of Europe again.
4. Real Madrid (Apr 27, 2011) – ‘El Clasico’ is always special but this one was extra special as it was the first leg of the semi-final of the Champions League. I was at a client in Lake Forest and excused myself from meetings and went to the break room where I was joined by another football fanatic. The game was fiesty. Pepe was shown the red. Mourinho was sent to the stands. Real were down to 10 men and Barcelona took full advantage. Messi received a cross from Afellay and steered it past Casillas and Ramos. The second one was an amazing solo goal. A quick one-two with Busquets and then Messi bisected Alonso and Lass. The commentary that followed describes the next few moves and the goal perfectly – ‘Away from 2 .. 3.. 4.. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful .. A near super natural goal from Lionel Messi.. Best player in the world bar none!’
5. Arsenal (Apr 6, 2010) – It was the second leg at home. Barcelona were behind. Then Messi decided to do it on his own. First he curled a ball from outside the box into the right hand corner of the net. Then Messi passed to Abidal whose cross got deflected off the defender and fell to Perdo. Pedro gently passed it to Messi and he used his right foot to put it past the goalkeeper. Then he completed his hat-trick before half time with a perfectly executed chip over the goalkeeper. And finally the fourth goal between the legs of the goalie. The commentator’s reaction summed it up perfectly – ‘They are trying to contain him but it is an impossible task. This man is just unstoppable!’
Words cannot do justice to the skill, the enthusiasm, the agility, the vision and the unbridled joy with which Messi has played the game over the years. His is a work of art. The football pitch is his canvas and his paintings will stand the test of time. One can only admire his talent and genius. The above games highlight how good Messi has been over the years. There have been some adversities but it would be fair to say that no one brings to the table all the qualities that Messi possesses and he does it on a consistent basis. He squeezes water from stone time and again. He has a fraction of a second to make decisions with his dribbles and runs but never ceases to amaze us. Messi indeed proves that football is intelligence in motion!