The iconic Messi jersey has shone brightly since his early days in Barcelona and with the Argentine U20 team. It’s been a dazzling sight, so much so that it might go unnoticed that it’s been over eight years since its wearer last hoisted a trophy. This momentous occasion was on June 6, 2015, at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, where Barcelona clinched a 3-1 victory over Juventus in the final.
2014: The Birth of MSN Trio
The 2014-15 season marked the birth of one of the most legendary striking trios in football history, thanks to Liverpool and Barcelona striking a £75m deal for Luis Suarez. Suarez’s arrival at Barcelona, heralding the formation of the MSN trio, was a game-changer. The Uruguayan striker, the previous season’s Premier League top scorer and recipient of both the PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year awards, had transferred from Ajax to Liverpool in 2011 for £22.7m, with four years remaining on his contract.
However, the MSN trio didn’t immediately take the field together. Suarez was serving a four-month suspension from all football activities, following an infamous incident at the 2014 World Cup where he bit Giorgio Chiellini. Though he evaded punishment during the match, Suarez was later handed a four-month ban and suspended from nine international games. As a Fox Sports anchor wittily noted, this was the third biting incident of Suarez’s career, humorously dubbed the ‘Suarez diet,’ which is definitely not recommended.
Barca’s MSN Era Begins: Dominating the Group Stage
With the formation of the MSN trio, Barcelona confidently advanced from their group: winning their first five matches against PSG, Ajax, and Apoel. Only in the final game, already secure as group leaders and fielding a reserve team, did they lose to Paris. At the time, it was beyond anyone’s imagination that five years later, Messi’s jersey would not only find its new home in the city of the Eiffel Tower but also grace the soccer field of Parc des Princes, which he would come to call home.
Barcelona’s Knockout Saga: Messi’s Jersey Confronts Europe’s Elite
In the knockout stages, Barcelona’s path to the final couldn’t have been tougher: facing Manchester City in the round of 16, PSG in the quarterfinals, and Bayern Munich in the semifinals. But this Barcelona, adorned in the feared Messi jersey, was simply unbeatable at the time. The team netted 110 goals in the league, just shy of averaging three goals per game, and continued their dominance in the Champions League.
Against Manchester City, they secured a 2-1 victory away before sealing the deal with a 1-0 win at home. The PSG clash witnessed a legendary Suarez double in an away 3-1 victory, followed by a smooth 2-0 win at home.
The semifinal against Bayern Munich became legendary, with Messi scoring a goal that turned Boateng into a meme, a moment we covered in a special article.
In the final, Barca took the lead in just the 5th minute against Juventus, who had knocked out Real Madrid, with a goal from Rakitic. Ultimately, they triumphed 3-1 in the finale, much to the delight of those celebrating Messi’s jersey.
Barca’s Golden Year: Messi Jersey at the Heart of 2014-15 Triumphs
The 2014-15 Barcelona team was arguably the best in the world at that time, a claim substantiated by one of the most successful seasons in the club’s history. Barcelona clinched its second continental treble, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. The league title came after a fierce competition with Real Madrid, while the Copa del Rey was secured with a stunning 3–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou. In the Champions League, Barcelona overcame Bayern Munich (3–0 at home, 2–3 away) to reach the final against Juventus in Berlin, where they triumphed 3–1.
The opening goal in the Copa del Rey final was another stunning display of talent in a Messi jersey, ranking among the greatest ever seen. There have been countless analyses since then, trying to dissect how Messi managed to dribble past four defenders in such a short span and then shoot with such precision. Do you remember? Messi scored that famous goal against Boateng on May 6, and this remarkable goal occurred on May 30. Two legendary goals within just four weeks… What a class act!
A key factor in Barcelona’s success was the formidable attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar, and summer signing Luis Suárez. They scored a record-breaking 122 goals across all competitions, becoming the highest-scoring trio in a single season in Spanish football history. Messi, wearing the iconic number 10 jersey, was a standout performer, finding the back of the net 58 times that season. Messi’s jersey was a symbol of excellence, particularly in December at the Club World Cup, where he shone brightly, scoring the opening goal in a convincing 3-0 victory over River Plate.
Messi’s Quintuple Triumph: Clinching the 2015 Ballon d’Or
The 2015 Ballon d’Or awarding to Lionel Messi was one such instance. It was far from a surprise, given the breathtaking performances he delivered throughout the year. This victory marked Messi’s fifth Ballon d’Or win, a feat he accomplished at the tender age of 28, underscoring his unparalleled skills and dominance in the sport.
In 2023, eight years after his fifth win, Lionel Messi achieved a new pinnacle in his illustrious career by claiming his eighth Ballon d’Or. This remarkable victory crowned a period of unparalleled success, during which he not only dazzled the world but also completed his collection of major honors in an Argentina jersey. With this win, he sealed his legacy by capturing every significant title possible with Argentina, including the World Cup, Copa America, and Finalissima. Messi’s journey from his fifth to the eighth Ballon d’Or is not just a story of personal triumph but also a narrative of him winning everything there is to win while representing his country.
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