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HUGE THREAD (PART 1)
Messi's biggest clutch moments in his career. Messi's lows are often highlighted (contrary to other great players), let's talk about his highs for once. The guy didn't win 34 titles at 32yo by not being clutch, that's ridiculous.
Messi's biggest clutch moments in his career. Messi's lows are often highlighted (contrary to other great players), let's talk about his highs for once. The guy didn't win 34 titles at 32yo by not being clutch, that's ridiculous.
Few notes:
- Football didn't start in 2016
- Messi does more than scoring/assisting. But in this thread I'll mostly focus on those things to keep it objective
If you're not interested in information & context, just drop your insult & move on. No hard feelings
- Football didn't start in 2016
- Messi does more than scoring/assisting. But in this thread I'll mostly focus on those things to keep it objective
If you're not interested in information & context, just drop your insult & move on. No hard feelings
Fifa World Cup under 20 (2005)
- Messi scores the 1st goal of Argentina vs Egypt, after losing to the US.
- Round of 16: scores equalizer vs Colombia
- QF vs ESP: assists the 2-1, scores the 3-1
- SF: scores the 1-0, assists the 2-1
- F: scores 2 vs Nigeria
- Messi scores the 1st goal of Argentina vs Egypt, after losing to the US.
- Round of 16: scores equalizer vs Colombia
- QF vs ESP: assists the 2-1, scores the 3-1
- SF: scores the 1-0, assists the 2-1
- F: scores 2 vs Nigeria
2005/2006. Toughest game of Barca's season in the UCL was at the Bridge vs Mourinho's Chelsea (2 of the 3 best teams that season with Milan). Although he didnt score, Messi dropped a classic. Eventually getting Del Horno red carded in frustration. Barca win 1-2. 19 years old.
Also had a key assist in the 0-3 clasico (opener). Unfortunately he got injured & if that wasn't the case Barca would've won the UCL much more easily. Barely scraped past Benfica, barely scraped past Milan & barely scraped past Arsenal. Messi already was an important player.
World Cup 2006: assists the 2-1 vs Mexico in the 2nd round, barely played
2006/2007.
- Last minute equalizer at Bremen in the UCL.
- Kills off the game vs Liga contenders Sevilla
- That hattrick vs Madrid that kept Barca's hopes alive
2006/2007.
- Last minute equalizer at Bremen in the UCL.
- Kills off the game vs Liga contenders Sevilla
- That hattrick vs Madrid that kept Barca's hopes alive
- Penultimate game of the season vs city rivals Espanyol, he scores 2. If it weren't for the Tamudazo, that would've been Leo's 11th Liga. Dinho was out, Eto'o was injured a lot, that was already Messi's Barca. We just didn't know it.
Copa America 2007
- Scores vs Peru in the QF
- Scores vs Mexico in the SF (I don't remember but I think it was goal of the competition)
- Scores vs Peru in the QF
- Scores vs Mexico in the SF (I don't remember but I think it was goal of the competition)
2007/2008
UCL: scored vs Lyon, Stuttgart & Celtic before unfortunately getting injured. When he came back vs United in the SF he was by far Barca's best in both legs
Liga: goals vs Sevilla (Liga contenders at the time) & Atleti, assists vs Villarreal, Espanyol & Madrid
UCL: scored vs Lyon, Stuttgart & Celtic before unfortunately getting injured. When he came back vs United in the SF he was by far Barca's best in both legs
Liga: goals vs Sevilla (Liga contenders at the time) & Atleti, assists vs Villarreal, Espanyol & Madrid
2008 olympics
- Opener vs Ivory Coast & assists the winner
- QF: scores opener vs Holland & assists the winner
- F: assists Di Maria for the winner
- Opener vs Ivory Coast & assists the winner
- QF: scores opener vs Holland & assists the winner
- F: assists Di Maria for the winner
2008/2009
- Away at Espanyol. Scores a winner 13 minutes deep into added time
- Goals vs Atleti, away at Malaga in disgusting conditions, 2 important goals away at Sevilla, goal in the clasico, late winner away at Osasuna (a very difficult stadium for Barca historically)
- Away at Espanyol. Scores a winner 13 minutes deep into added time
- Goals vs Atleti, away at Malaga in disgusting conditions, 2 important goals away at Sevilla, goal in the clasico, late winner away at Osasuna (a very difficult stadium for Barca historically)
- Wins Barca the game vs Santander as a sub with 2 goals
- Scored at Atleti, a crucial away goal at Getafe (another stadium where Barca used to suffer at), another one at Mestalla..
- Crucial clasico: assists the equalizer & goes on to score another 2. Liga won.
- Scored at Atleti, a crucial away goal at Getafe (another stadium where Barca used to suffer at), another one at Mestalla..
- Crucial clasico: assists the equalizer & goes on to score another 2. Liga won.
- Copa: wins Barca round of 16 tie & gets an ovation from Atleti fans, scores a crucial goal at Mallorca in the semis against the run of play & scores the winner in the final
- UCL: Big goals at Shakhtar & Sporting in the groups, big goals vs Lyon & Bayern in the KO rounds
- UCL: Big goals at Shakhtar & Sporting in the groups, big goals vs Lyon & Bayern in the KO rounds
- Assisted Iniesta for the Stamford Bridge goal & then scored the goal that sealed the UCL win vs United in Rome.
Smallest man on the pitch with a big big goal against a fantastic United side, probably the best United side I've ever witnessed. Barca werent even (clear) favorites
Smallest man on the pitch with a big big goal against a fantastic United side, probably the best United side I've ever witnessed. Barca werent even (clear) favorites
2009/2010
- Assisted supercup winner vs Shakhtar
- Scored in Supercopa final
- Scored winners at club WC semis & final
- In La Liga he scored big goals vs Madrid, vs Atleti, vs Sevilla, vs Valencia. Most of them at the end of the season with Madrid pushing close to a 100 points.
- Assisted supercup winner vs Shakhtar
- Scored in Supercopa final
- Scored winners at club WC semis & final
- In La Liga he scored big goals vs Madrid, vs Atleti, vs Sevilla, vs Valencia. Most of them at the end of the season with Madrid pushing close to a 100 points.
- UCL: you could probably say he won Barca the Stuttgart & Arsenal ties singlehandely. If it weren't for the volcano eruption & that great Mourinho Inter side, that Barca could've easily went back-to-back.
2010-2011
- After missing the 1st supercopa leg, he comes back & helps Barca to a 4-0 win in the 2nd leg
- Liga: big goals at Atleti (home & away), 2 great assists in 5-0 clasico, big goals/assists vs Sevilla, Villarreal & at the Bernabeu
- After missing the 1st supercopa leg, he comes back & helps Barca to a 4-0 win in the 2nd leg
- Liga: big goals at Atleti (home & away), 2 great assists in 5-0 clasico, big goals/assists vs Sevilla, Villarreal & at the Bernabeu
- Copa: assists winner at Bilbao, hattrick vs Betis before scoring a goal against the run of play away to end the tie, crucial goals in the semis
- UCL: assist & 2 goals vs Arsenal in the round of 16, assist & goal in QF.
- UCL: assist & 2 goals vs Arsenal in the round of 16, assist & goal in QF.
In the semis he scored 2 goals & won Barca the tie in what was (& will probably forever be) the most tensed clasicos in modern history. Since 2003, there has never been a club game bigger than this one. And it was decided by Messi, again.
Then in the final he scores the winner vs United before pretty much assisting Villa for the goal that killed the tie. Another big game but what do I know. @EiFSoccer probably knows better than me
2011/2012
- European supercup: scores & assists in 2-0 win
- Spanish supercup clasico: away game, with 2 training sessions under his belt, he assists & scores in 2-2 draw. At home? Assists & scores 2 others in 3-2 win. Barely was fit, won that clasico tie alone.
- European supercup: scores & assists in 2-0 win
- Spanish supercup clasico: away game, with 2 training sessions under his belt, he assists & scores in 2-2 draw. At home? Assists & scores 2 others in 3-2 win. Barely was fit, won that clasico tie alone.
- Club world cup: Motm performance & 2 goals in the final
- Liga: 4 goals & 3 assists vs Valencia, 6 goals vs Malaga, 4 vs Atleti, 3 assists vs Madrid, goals vs Sevilla, Espanyol, Villarreal
- Copa: assists the winner vs RM away, assists the opener at home. Scores in the final
- Liga: 4 goals & 3 assists vs Valencia, 6 goals vs Malaga, 4 vs Atleti, 3 assists vs Madrid, goals vs Sevilla, Espanyol, Villarreal
- Copa: assists the winner vs RM away, assists the opener at home. Scores in the final
- UCL: goal vs Milan before assisting the winner, Round of 16 he scores 6 vs Bayer, scores 2 in the QF vs Milan, 1 assist vs Chelsea in the Semis.
2012/2013
- Supercopa: scores home & away vs Madrid (incredible performance away btw, playing one man down almost all game)
2012/2013
- Supercopa: scores home & away vs Madrid (incredible performance away btw, playing one man down almost all game)
- Liga: 3 big goals vs Madrid, 2 vs Atleti, 2 vs Sociedad, vs Valencia...
- Copa: big assist away at the Bernabeu
- UCL: amazing performance in the remontada vs Milan with 2 goals, scores at Paris & then changes the game as soon as he comes on in the return leg
- Copa: big assist away at the Bernabeu
- UCL: amazing performance in the remontada vs Milan with 2 goals, scores at Paris & then changes the game as soon as he comes on in the return leg
2013/2014
Liga: 3 goals & an assist vs Madrid, same vs Sevilla, an assist vs Atleti, a goal vs Sociedad, an important winner at Villarreal
Copa: 4 goals vs Getafe, 3 assists to Tello vs Levante in the QF, a goal vs Sociedad in the semis
Liga: 3 goals & an assist vs Madrid, same vs Sevilla, an assist vs Atleti, a goal vs Sociedad, an important winner at Villarreal
Copa: 4 goals vs Getafe, 3 assists to Tello vs Levante in the QF, a goal vs Sociedad in the semis
HUGE THREAD (PART 2)
- UCL: hattrick vs Ajax, 3 goals vs Milan & 2 goals vs City (home & away) in the 2nd round.
Obviously not Messi's best season, he was injured a lot.
- UCL: hattrick vs Ajax, 3 goals vs Milan & 2 goals vs City (home & away) in the 2nd round.
Obviously not Messi's best season, he was injured a lot.
World cup 2014:
- Causes the opener & scores the 2nd vs Bosnia
- Scores the winner vs Iran in the last minute
- Scores 2 to help Argentina top the group
- Assists the winner vs Switzerland
- Initiates the goal vs Belgium
All of this in a very defensive system.
- Causes the opener & scores the 2nd vs Bosnia
- Scores the winner vs Iran in the last minute
- Scores 2 to help Argentina top the group
- Assists the winner vs Switzerland
- Initiates the goal vs Belgium
All of this in a very defensive system.
2014/2015
Liga: Big assist vs Madrid, big goals vs Athletic, 4 goals vs Sevilla, a big goal & an assist vs Atleti, 2 huge assists vs Valencia & a goal, a big goal vs Villarreal...
Copa: a goal in the QF vs Atleti, 2 "assists" in the return leg to kill the tie.
Liga: Big assist vs Madrid, big goals vs Athletic, 4 goals vs Sevilla, a big goal & an assist vs Atleti, 2 huge assists vs Valencia & a goal, a big goal vs Villarreal...
Copa: a goal in the QF vs Atleti, 2 "assists" in the return leg to kill the tie.
1 goal & 2 assists in the semis vs Villarreal & in the final he scores 2 goals. Including that Bilbao goal.
UCL: big goals vs PSG in the groups, 2 motm performances vs City, a big assist at PSG, 2 big goals vs Bayern & 3 other "assists".
UCL: big goals vs PSG in the groups, 2 motm performances vs City, a big assist at PSG, 2 big goals vs Bayern & 3 other "assists".
In the final he starts the play for the first goal. Then against the run the play (where Juve were all over Barca) he creates the crucial 2nd (where Suarez taps it in) & finally he starts the 3rd that kills off the game. No stats but even Mourinho highlighted his performance.
2015/2016
- European supercup: scores 2 freekicks, causes the winner with after a rebound
- Supercopa: Scores in the return leg but Pique ruins any hope of a remontada by telling the ref that he sh**ts on his wh**re mother
- European supercup: scores 2 freekicks, causes the winner with after a rebound
- Supercopa: Scores in the return leg but Pique ruins any hope of a remontada by telling the ref that he sh**ts on his wh**re mother
- Liga: 2 big goals vs Atleti, an assist vs Madrid & Valencia, 4 goals vs Valencia, 2 big goals vs Sevilla & Malaga. With the title on the line he gave 2 big assists at Betis & a goal + 2 assists vs Espanyol
- Copa: 2 goals & an assist vs Espanyol, a big assist vs Athletic
- Copa: 2 goals & an assist vs Espanyol, a big assist vs Athletic
A hattrick in the semis vs Valencia & in the final he delivered 2 assists vs Sevilla (despite the team playing with 10 for most of the game).
UCL: 3 goals vs Arsenal
UCL: 3 goals vs Arsenal
Copa America 2016
1 goal & 2 assists in the QF & 1 goal & 2 assists in the Semis. In the final he couldnt score/assist but he was by far the best player on the pitch, even caused a red (nullified by Rojo's dumbass).
1 goal & 2 assists in the QF & 1 goal & 2 assists in the Semis. In the final he couldnt score/assist but he was by far the best player on the pitch, even caused a red (nullified by Rojo's dumbass).
2016/2017
- Supercopa: Goal & assist
- Liga: Big winners at Madrid (+ another goal), at Atleti, at Valencia (+ another goal), equalizer at Sevilla & assist for winner, big equalizer at Villarreal, big pass at Betis, 4 big goals vs Valencia & Sevilla.
Messi's Liga that RM won
- Supercopa: Goal & assist
- Liga: Big winners at Madrid (+ another goal), at Atleti, at Valencia (+ another goal), equalizer at Sevilla & assist for winner, big equalizer at Villarreal, big pass at Betis, 4 big goals vs Valencia & Sevilla.
Messi's Liga that RM won
UCL: Goal in the remontada + assist for the Suarez penalty at the end. Vs Juve I thought he was incredible, created 2 clear 1v1 chances for Iniesta & Suarez that they missed.
2017/2018
- Goal in supercopa vs Madrid
2017/2018
- Goal in supercopa vs Madrid
- Liga: Hattrick vs Espanyol, big assist at Getafe, big goals & assists (combo) at Bilbao & Villarreal & Madrid & Sociedad , big assist at Valencia, 2 goals & 2 assists at Betis, big winners vs Alaves & Atleti, equalizer vs Sevilla, goal vs Madrid.
Messi's Liga that Barca won
Messi's Liga that Barca won
- UCL: Equalizer at the Bridge & in the return leg he scores 2 & assists another. Vs Roma at home 3 of the 4 goals were created by him.
- Copa: Wins Barca the round of 16 (2 goals + 1 assist), scores winner in QF vs Espanyol, assists winner in semis & scores + assists in final
- Copa: Wins Barca the round of 16 (2 goals + 1 assist), scores winner in QF vs Espanyol, assists winner in semis & scores + assists in final
Copa 2018:
- Qualifiers: Messi scored the winner vs Chile, 1 goals + 2 assists vs Colombia, assisted the winner in Chile, goal + assist vs Bolivia, winner vs Uruguay..
Missed a few games due to injury & so despite Leo's efforts, Argentina still needed playoffs to get to Russia
- Qualifiers: Messi scored the winner vs Chile, 1 goals + 2 assists vs Colombia, assisted the winner in Chile, goal + assist vs Bolivia, winner vs Uruguay..
Missed a few games due to injury & so despite Leo's efforts, Argentina still needed playoffs to get to Russia
Argentina down 1-0 in in high altitude, Messi takes over, scores 3 & gets Argentina to Russia. As you can see it's a miracle they made it.
- Russia: Messi comes up clutch vs Nigeria & then vs eventual winners France he gets 2 assists. Unfortunately his teams conceded 4
- Russia: Messi comes up clutch vs Nigeria & then vs eventual winners France he gets 2 assists. Unfortunately his teams conceded 4
2018/2019
- Supercopa: 2 assists vs Sevilla
- Liga: big goals vs Sevilla, Espanyol, Getafe, Valencia, Sevilla, Betis & big assists vs Atleti, Villareal, Sevilla...
- Copa: goal + 2 assists in QF, goal in final vs Valencia
- Supercopa: 2 assists vs Sevilla
- Liga: big goals vs Sevilla, Espanyol, Getafe, Valencia, Sevilla, Betis & big assists vs Atleti, Villareal, Sevilla...
- Copa: goal + 2 assists in QF, goal in final vs Valencia
- UCL: 2 goals & 2 assists in the 2nd round vs Lyon, assist away at United, 2 goals at home, 2 goals at home vs Liverpool. Away at Liverpool he creates 3 clear cut chances & Barca eventually concede 4. So basically he does it alone or they lose. No one has ever done that
So as you can see Messi is a very clutch player. You can't be clasico top scorer & assist-giver & you cant win 34 titles as the main man without being clutch. That's literally impossible. And this is when we consider "clutch" as scoring/passing. Not dominating games..
THE END
THE END
