How Barcelona’s collapse at Anfield created a false narrative regarding Messi carrying Barcelona and being let down by the team.

[THREAD].

In the 2018/19 UCL Semi-Finals Barcelona were up against Liverpool.

In the first leg at Camp Nou, Suarez grabbed the first goal, and Messi scored the second and third.

We all know what happened in the second leg at Anfield, with Liverpool winning 4-0 and Messi creating 2 good chances for his team.

He got let down that game, there’s no other way to put it

But since then, I hear people saying things like “Messi has been let down his whole career”, and acting like Messi plays the way he did vs Liverpool every time he loses.

It’s time to debunk this myth.

Since Messi became a starter for Barcelona (2006/07) he as played 14 UCL seasons. He won it 3 times since then, and therefore got eliminated 11 times.

We know he put up a great performance vs Liverpool, but how did he perform in the other 10 times Barcelona was eliminated?

The answer is not pretty.

2019/20: 2-8 vs Bayern QF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists

2018/19: 3-4 vs Liverpool SF - Messi 2 goals 0 assists (his best tie while getting eliminated)

2017/18: 4-4 vs Roma QF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists

2016/17: 0-3 vs Juventus QF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists

2015/16: 2-3 vs Atletico Madrid QF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists

2013/14: 1-2 vs Atletico Madrid QF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists

2012/13: 0-7 vs Bayern SF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists (only played 1 game)

2011/12: 2-3 vs Chelsea SF - Messi 0 goals 1 assist (missed penalty)

2009/10: 2-3 vs Inter Milan SF - Messi 0 goals 0 assists.

2007/08: 0-1 vs Manchester United SF - 0 goals 0 assists

2006/07: 2-2 vs Liverpool RO16 - Messi 0 goals 0 assists (Liverpool progress on away goals).

To conclude:

20 games
2 goals
1 assist

Barcelona scored 18 goals in these 11 UCL exits. Messi scored 2, assisted 1, and missed a crucial penalty in one. It seems like he’s the one letting the team down .

This might look unfairly bad, so let’s put these numbers into context.

To put the stats into context, I will compare them to Cristiano Ronaldo’s stats while getting eliminated.

CRISTIANO RONALDO WHILE GETTING ELIMINATED IN UCL

2019/20: 2-2 vs Lyon RO16 - Ronaldo 2 goals 0 assists

2018/19: 2-3 vs Ajax QF - Ronaldo 2 goals 0 assists

2014/15: 2-3 vs Juventus SF - Ronaldo 2 goals 0 assists

2012/13: 3-4 vs Dortmund SF - Ronaldo 1 goal 0 assists

2011/12: 3-3 vs Bayern SF - Ronaldo 2 goals 1 assist (missed penalty in shootout)

2010/11: 1-3 vs Barcelona SF - Ronaldo 0 goals 0 assists

2009/10: 1-2 vs Lyon RO16 - Ronaldo 1 goal 0 assists

2008/09: 0-2 vs Barcelona final - Ronaldo 0 goals 0 assists

2006/07: 3-5 vs Milan SF - Ronaldo 1 goal 0 assists.

To conclude:

17 games
11 goals
1 assist

Ronaldo’s team scored 17 goals while getting eliminated. Ronaldo scored 11 of those and assisted 1.

Involvement in team goals while getting eliminated:

Ronaldo: 12/17 - 71%
Messi: 3/18 - 16%

I hope this clears up who let the team DOWN and who was let down BY the team.

END OF THREAD.

And yes, I know goals and assists aren’t everything, but in such matches they are the most important thing by far.