In the Summer of 2008, Barcelona was in a total mess.
The club was healing from a disaster season. The “Ronaldinho era” was nearing the finish line, and questions loomed about the team’s future. Barcelona appointed Pep Guardiola as their new head coach. A rookie coach fresh from coaching Barcelona B team. Many were against this as Guardiola was inexperienced and Barcelona turned down the deal with Jose Mourinho. People became skeptical after Guardiola’s bold decisions to release the likes of Deco and Ronaldinho, two of the biggest names in football at that time.
But Guardiola had a vision of creating a team around 21-year-old Lionel Messi.
The Early Days
Lionel Messi had already shown a glimpse of brilliance under Frank Rijkaard. Fans got a trailer of Messi’s excellence after his brilliant “Ankara Messi” goal against Getafe, his debut hat-rick against arch-rivals Real Madrid, and his electrifying dribbling. Messi was still a new face, one who needed guidance and a direct route towards brilliance.
Guardiola saw something deep in him, he didn’t see him as a world-class winger he saw him as a focal point of the team.
In training, Guardiola would chat with Messi for hours about football. He wanted Messi to carry the responsibility of a playmaker which aligned with his razor-sharp vision. The idea of the False 9 position was in its initial stages.
2008–09: The Testament Season
The season started on a lower note. Guardiola’s side lost to Numancia and drew at home to Racing Santander, dropping crucial points. There were some side-eyes towards the managerial decisions, but Guardiola needed time. Guardiola implemented the idea of pushing Messi Central to operate as a playmaker which was a game-changing decision.
Messi’s link with Xavi and Iniesta in midfield was poetry in motion, playing the role of half-winger gave Messi more freedom. Messi’s movements opened lanes allowing them to catch attackers with his vision. By midseason, Messi was no more a youngster he became the engine of Guardiola’s side.
The defining moment came in the 2008-09 Champions League final, when Barcelona went up against Sir Alex’s mighty Manchester United. Messi started that game in the False 9 position, confusing the defense with his agile movements.
Then came the moment, that lives rent-free in every football fan’s mind, Xavi floats a perfect ball into the box, and the 5’7” Argentine rises above Rio Ferdinand to head it into the net, Van der Sar’s mouth was wide open with shock.
Messi scores, the score is 2-0 and the treble is completed.
The Silent Leader
Messi was never vocal, he was always calm, showed humility, and never discriminated between players.
“Don’t write about him, don’t try to describe him. Just watch him.”
The season wasn’t Messi’s peak, it was a start to something big. He ended the season with 38 goals and countless memories. He became the face of football. After the brilliant season, Messi went on and lifted the 2009 Balon d’Or award.
When I tell you it was the start of something big, I mean it. Messi won the Balon d’Or for the next four years in a row.