FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.12.2009 10:48

2009: Messi’s year, Barça’s year

Roger Bogunyà

Despite his youth, Leo Messi has been at the summit of world football for some years. Indeed, 2009 was a triumphal year both for Messi and for Barça.

6th January: Hat-trick for Messi against Atletico Madrid in the Cup (1-3).

11th January: He scores the winning goal in Pamplona (2-3).

1st February: His two goals seal a fight back against Racing. He scores Barça’s 5,000th goal.

4th March: Equalizes (1-1) against Mallorca and sends Barça through to the Cup Final.

8th April: Scores two goals against Bayern Munich (4-0) to help Barça through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

2nd May: Two goals in the Santiago Bernabéu – part of the historic 2-6 defeat of Real Madrid.

13th May: The team wins the Spanish Cup with the help of a goal from Messi.

16th May: Real Madrid’s defeat in Villarreal mathematically hands the league title to FC Barcelona.

27th May: Messi scores the second goal against Manchester United and wins his second Champions League medal with Barça.

24th June: Celebrates his 22nd birthday with an amazing collection of silverware already to his name: three leagues, one Spanish Cup and two Super Cups and a European Super Cup and a Spanish Super Cup to come in August.

23rd August: Scores to clinch the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao (3-0).

27th August: In Monaco, Messi receives the awards for best forward and best player of the Champions League 2008-09

28th August: Gives an amazing goal assist to Pedro, who scores the winning goal in the European Super Cup (1-0).

12th September: Scores his first goal of the current season against Getafe (0-2).

18th September: Extends his contract with FC Barcelona until 2016.

19th September: A fantastic performance from Messi against Atletico Madrid (5-2) including two goals.

22nd September: A perfect performance in El Sardinero, where he scores twice (1-4).

7th October: The British magazine ‘Four Four Two’ chooses him as the best player of 2009.

14th October: Messi and Argentina qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

26th October: Leo Messi receives the Spanish League awards for best player and best forward of the 2008-09 season.

10th November: Named the winner of Champions Number 1, for the best player in the Champions League, by the magazines ‘Marca’ and ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’.

16th November: Wins the l’Onze d’Or of the French magazine ‘Onze Mondial’.