5 underrated performances from Lionel Messi’s Barcelona career

Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund – 2019-20 Champions League group stage

This performance from Messi comes from the current 2019-20 season, but it is still vastly underappreciated.

There were no major storylines heading into the game nor other factors that made this one stand out. It is just the performance alone that deserves recognition.

Over the 90 minutes against Dortmund, Messi covered a multitude of space on the pitch. From the right to the left flank, Messi exploited so much space that it left Dortmund’s defensive setup in shambles. Now even though there were sequences when Dortmund’s compact out-of-possession setup took hold of every zone on the pitch, Messi’s quick dribbles wound up collapsing Lucien Favre’s 4-4-2 setup.

Even in instances where Messi attracted a double-team to mark him, he still was able to weave on by the two defenders and zig-zag his way to the final third; it left for an echoing of “oohs” and “ahhs” from the Camp Nou crowd. For a player who could change direction so quickly with the ball, Dortmund were left helpless in just how to contain him — a feeling La Liga defenders are accustomed to. Dortmund players did attempt to tackle Messi while also exerting effort to poke the ball away from him,  but they were often left with their feet planted to the grass as the Argentine waltzed on by.

Messi wound up contributing to all three of Barcelona’s goals on the night with a goal and pair of assists. He assisted both Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann with line-splitting passes. His own goal came off of a one-touch combination with Suarez as he took on a tight angle shot from his left side for the score.

To go along with the three goal contributions, he recorded 12 ground duels won, 11 successful dribbles and four goal-scoring chances created.

Following the game, Favre was at a lost for words but applauded Messi’s work on the pitch.

“He waits really well for the ball and moves very well between the lines,” Favre said. “And when he gets the ball, it gets pretty complicated.”

Just another masterclass from Messi.