Lionel Messi doesn’t need much introduction. He’s one of the greatest players to ever grace a pitch, and an attraction who brings thousands of tourists to Barcelona each year. He’s the soul of this great era at the Camp Nou, and always the envy of managers in the opposing dugout.
Asked why Chelsea lost to Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday, defender Marcos Alonso simply said, “They have Lionel Messi.”
The diminutive Argentine has always featured prominently for the Catalan outfit – the sheen on his game never wore off – but this season has been different. Messi is creating from deeper positions, stretching defences out wide, and making a difference in the penalty area.
Related: Messi, Dembele clinical as Barcelona bounces Chelsea
He was clinical in the latest tie, scoring off three of his four shots against Chelsea to single-handedly swing the result in Barcelona’s favour. But while the goals were important, Messi’s assist to Ousmane Dembele captured the very best of his game. The 30-year-old won possession in midfield, eluded defenders as he roared downfield on the counter-attack, and then spotted the Frenchman with an …read more