10 of Messi’s best games to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his debut.
Lionel Messi played his first game for FC Barcelona 10 years ago today. In the decade since then he has dominated games in every competition, and staked his claim to be the greatest of all time.
In honour of 10 years of Messi genius, the Daily Mail have written a piece listing the “flea’s” top ten performances for Barcelona.
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Oxlade-Chamberlain England – Winger will play is asked.
Balotelli Liverpool – Reds are “better” than Mario expected.
Piazon Transfer – Brazilian subject of surprise bids.
10) Barcelona 4-0 Viktoria Plzen, 2011
Messi has torn apart many a Champions League minnow over the years, on his way to the golden boot in four of the competitions.
This was true domination however, as the little genius slipped through waves of oncoming Czech players time and time again.
9) Barcelona 4-0 Santos, 2011
It was Messi vs Neymar but ended up being pretty one sided, as Barcelona eviscerated Santos.
Neymar wasn’t too worried – he probably already knew his future lay in Catalonia.
8) Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United, 2011
The second time Messi eliminated Manchester United it wasn’t even difficult.
Pep Guardiola admitted it was the Argentine who made the difference, scoring the vital second and running rings around Rafael.
7) Barcelona 4-3 Real Madrid, 2014
A classic El Clasico from earlier this year, Messi’s hat-trick may not have won Barca the league in the end, but it took Madrid out of the running, which was almost as important.
6) Barcelona 2-1 Estudiantes, 2009
Messi chested the ball home with the Barca badge to win the Club World Cup, only Barca’s sixth trophy that year.
5) Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal, 2010
Messi scored four to single handedly evict Arsenal competition, leading Arsene Wenger to make the mysterious pronouncement “he’s like a Playstation”.
4) Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United, 2009
Messi’s rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo was only just beginning and the Argentinian struck an early blow, scoring the vital second with an unexpected header from a stunning Xavi cross.
3) Barcelona 4-0 Bayern Munich, 2009
Messi smashed in a double against German superclub Bayern Munich in this Champions League quarter-final, on the way to his first European title.
2) Barcelona 5-2 Getafe, 2007
This was the game in which Messi scored his incredible solo goal, a “carbon-copy” of Diego Maradonna’s against England so exact that looks like a FIFA recreation.
1) Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid, 2007
In the one game which truly announced the arrival of a player different to the other talents which had come before.
Thrice Madrid went ahead and three times Messi equalised.
In front of 98,000 fans Messi scored his brilliant third in 87th minute at the climax of one of the most memorable games of recent decades.