Lionel Messi has received his deserved credit over the years for his brilliance, but the timeline of 2017-2020 remains unnoticed by many. This is the period when he single-handedly carried an average and aged Barcelona squad. This chapter in his career rarely gets the applause it deserves.
Why Does This Era Remain Underrated?
This period remains one of the most impressive carry-job any player has done for the club. The reason this era is underrated is because of Barcelona itself. Barcelona was unsuccessful in achieving European glories despite Messi’s performances, this clearly overshadowed Messi’s work. Messi was impressive every week scoring in almost every game, yet he didn’t get the credit he deserved for this period of time.
Messi vs the world
During this period Messi was leading a team that was far from golden days. Barcelona which was once dominant and ruled Europe for years was gradually dismantling. This period was full of questionable transfers, tactical inconsistencies, and an unbalanced squad. Despite all these struggles, Messi consistently delivered in every game and ensured the club remained competitive in every competition.
The club’s management struggled to find solutions after Neymar’s departure, investing heavily in individuals like Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembélé, and Antoine Griezmann who failed to deliver. The squad lacked cohesion and chemistry which led Messi to carry the burden on his shoulders.
Numbers Don’t Lie
During this Messi broke many records and had staggering stats all over, unmatched by any other player. Despite playing in a poor squad Messi’s numbers were unreal, proving his importance for the club.
In these three seasons, Messi netted 141 goals across all competitions, averaging nearly 47 goals per season. These records are thought to be unreal at the current time. He also provided 63 assists, showcasing his ability to make the play for his teammates. Messi won three consecutive Pichichi trophies (2018, 2019, and 2020), solidifying his dominance as the league’s top scorer.
One of the most memorable seasons was the 2018-19 season when he scored 51 goals and provided 22 assists in just 50 appearances. He led Barcelona to La Liga glory and a deep Champions League run. His 12 goals in the Champions League that season were the highest in the competition, including a memorable free-kick against Liverpool in the semi-finals that left the football world in awe.
Messi’s Europe Heroics
During this period, Barcelona faced consecutive Champions League humiliations, which were among the most heartbreaking for us.
In 2017-18, Messi led Barcelona to a 4-1 victory against AS Roma in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, contributing with his playmaking skills. However, the second leg was a disaster for the fans when AS Roma made a comeback to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League.
The following season of 2018-19 was Messi’s best during this period, scoring 12 goals in the Champions League. Messi’s two goals in the 3-0 win against Liverpool in the semi-final seemed to secure Barcelona’s spot in the final, but the second leg at Anfield was a disastrous one for Barcelona fans. Liverpool’s shocking 4-0 comeback completely overshadowed Messi’s brilliance.
In 2020, the poor European track of the team continued in the infamous 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. Messi’s overall performance in the competition was great but he couldn’t do it all alone.