It may seem absurd to suggest the greatest footballer on the planet may have his career defined by this weekend’s Champions League Final in Berlin, however in the case of Lionel Messi, that is precisely the case.
Twelve months on from suffering the biggest possible heartbreak as losing captain in a World Cup final, Messi has undisputedly regained his crown as the world’s premier player. The 2013-14 season was an unmitigated disaster at both club and national level, as Barcelona went trophyless and Argentina fell short at the final hurdle in Brazil. This season has seen Messi restored to full fitness, confidence and performance and the trophies have come accordingly.
Last weekend, the Catalan giants secured the domestic double with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey final. That match at the Camp Nou will be remembered almost exclusively for the magical goal scored by the Argentina maestro. Cutting in from the right wing, the Rosario-born magician made the Bilbao defenders resemble witches hats before dispatching the ball past the hapless keeper. It was a trademark moment for Messi in what is fast becoming a defining season.
The Berlin final will be the third in Messi’s glittering career, having scored in both the 2009 and 2011 editions in Rome and London respectively. Importantly, Barcelona won both those finals – each against English powerhouse Manchester United. The Rome final saw a 21-year-old Messi clinch the unofficial title of world’s best footballer, uncharacteristically scoring with a header. Two years later at Wembley, Messi scored a superb trademark goal as the Blaugrana put on a show for the ages in a 3-1 triumph. Messi and Barcelona have failed to make the final since that match in London.
In the aforementioned period of Champions League success in 2009 and 2011, Messi was a star on equal footing with Xavi and Andres Iniesta. The two playmakers were arguably the world’s premier central midfielders and many pundits theorised that Leo Messi was only the player he was because of Iniesta and Xavi’s artistry. Messi roamed freely and fluidly from the right wing, devoid of defensive duties and endlessly fed by his Spanish teammates. The subsequent three years saw a gradual decline in Xavi’s play and eventually followed by Iniesta’s, albeit less dramatic drop in output. Messi is now his nation’s captain, and undeniably his club’s superstar.
One major change took place after Zlatan Ibrahimovic left the club in 2010, with Messi moved in to a central striker’s position in line with his national duties. The idea was it would allow Messi the freedom to score more goals and preserve his body, prolonging his career. Despite this theory, injuries came thick and fast last season under Gerardo Martino and Messi limped to the finish line. There was even a suggestion the Argentine was falling out of love with football, talk of national team retirement, talk of a transfer to lesser clubs like PSG and Chelsea.
Enter Luis Enrique and Luis Suarez. With the new manager and magnificent Uruguayan striker in the squad, Messi was moved out once again to the right wing, and had had arguably his finest year.
This double-winning season has not been all smooth sailing, however – Luis Enrique was famously forced into crisis talks with the board and players at the winter break. What has ensued is a Barcelona with harmony, fluidity and brilliance. Argentina’s captain has been at the forefront with some of his finest performances domestically and famously in Europe, such as the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich. A bounce-back season as spectacular as the one Messi is enjoying is proving characteristics of a champion, characteristics of a leader, characteristics which should make him the next Barcelona captain.
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The entire 2014-15 campaign has already been a defining season in the career of Lionel Messi, putting to bed any doubts over whether we would ever see his best again. This weekend Messi has the opportunity to validate to the world he is back in his rightful place as king of football in club football’s biggest match, the Champions League Final.
Messi and good friend Carlos Tevez will hope to be lifting a different trophy together, the Copa America, for Argentina in Santiago in a month’s time. At club level, the Juventus match may be the most important of his career. It will define his greatness, exactly why we are likely to see something extraordinary from the Argentine genius.
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