A phenomenon from 1st to last
LA LIGA SALUTE TO A LEGEND 500 up for the man Real failed to shackle
BY my great good fortune I was there 499 goals ago when Leo Messi started on the golden pathway that ended with him smashing in his 500th to keep Spain’s title race alive and win the 234th El Clasico. And something links the two occasions which teaches you a massive amount about a guy born with the greatest combination of football ability and will to win in the history of the sport. You saw it on Sunday, Messi was like Popeye with his spinach. The more Marcelo or Ramos or Casemiro tried to batter or bruise him, until blood was drawn, the stronger he got. Like all true champions this guy thrives on obstacles, hurdling them and gathering forward momentum as he goes. Which is what I most like about those goals which snatched the points out of Madrid’s hands and kept title race alive. That’s the first time in the entire history of La Liga ( founded 1927) that Madrid have lost at home to a goal in added time – ever. But just for a second, back to the beginning. Goal No.1. It’s 2005, Messi is 17 and he’s racked up a mere 69 minutes of firstteam football. Frank Rijkaard shoves him on to replace Samuel Eto’o in a match balanced at 1-0 and which Barca must win if they are to keep their lead over Madrid as the Catalans go on to win their first league title in six years.
Just 107 seconds after coming on Ronaldinho scoops a lob over an Albacete defender. Messi lets it bounce once and delightfully lobs the keeper.
The Camp Nou is in uproar but the linesman wrongly calls it offside. Albacete’s keeper, no doubt without intending the insult and not knowing who he’s noising up, pats Messi on the head condescendingly.
Not a bloody mouth like when Marcelo elbowed Messi on Sunday night. Not the Ninjaesque mid-air lunge via which Sergio Ramos tried to smash the Argentine out of the contest.
But even then it fired Messi up. There are 18 seconds of normal time left but that’s long enough for him to lay a chance on a plate for Andres Iniesta who can’t tuck it away.
But when Messi’s riled, he’s riled. Ronaldinho produces the same bunker shot chip over the same defender and Messi, from almost the same blade of grass produces an identical lob over Albacete’s keeper for 2-0.
If Messi could have reached up to the top of the keeper’s head he’d have patted him on the napper just to pay him back.
If you’d asked Ronaldinho, there and then, if Messi might be a 500-goal man and if the half-century might be reached in a Bernabeu Clasico the mighty Brazilian would have said: “Yes!”
Just take a minute to think about it.
Champions League defeat to Juventus, a court appearance, protracted talks about a future which is only tied to Barcelona until the end of next season and the fact he’s in the middle of a hugely controversial FIFA ban which might rob him, and his national team, of even appearing at the next World Cup and yet he produces his special brand of magic in absolute extremis against Madrid.
Even a great footballer would have been entitled to buckle.
But Messi’s amazing. Literally. And he has been since that magical day against Albacete all those years and goals ago.