Lionel Messi's career highs and lows amid doubts over Barcelona future

| 17 August 2020

There are question marks over Lionel Messi's future following Barca's Champions League embarrassment.

Lionel Messi's Barcelona future is in doubt after their humiliating 8-2 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the Argentina striker's career highs and lows.

His best goal

🗣Leo #Messi: "The header I scored in Rome in the Champions League final was my best goal."Do you agree? 📹 See all his goals and decide!👇https://t.co/cNxsD0A8Oh pic.twitter.com/3anCGroide

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 9, 2019

The 33-year-old has over 700 to chose from, but he believes his goal in the 2009 Champions League final is his best.

A looping far-post header wrapped up a 2-0 win over Manchester United after Samuel Eto'o's opener.

Victory ensured Barca became the first Spanish team to win the treble.

Champions League glory

Soccer – UEFA Champions League – Final – Barcelona v Manchester United – Wembley Stadium — Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates his goal against Manchester United. (Nick Potts/PA)

Two years after beating United in Rome, Messi provided a masterclass as he inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win over Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Wembley.

Pedro had already put Barcelona ahead before Messi claimed his first goal in England when he drilled in from the edge of the area.

David Villa added the gloss on the victory, with Barca winning their fourth Champions League title.

Bayern defeat

Goal Bayern Munich. Philippe Coutinho. 2-8.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 14, 2020

Having won the competition four times, there has been no lower point for the Argentina forward than the crushing 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich last week.

Barca were torn apart in their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon and the result will surely spark sweeping changes at the Nou Camp both on and off the pitch.

Messi and Co were outgunned and outclassed as they conceded eight for the first time since 1946 and they were confronted by angry fans on their return to Spain.

International retirement

Nigeria v Argentina – FIFA World Cup 2018 – Group D – Saint Petersburg Stadium — Lionel Messi initially retired from international duty in 2016. (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Messi retired from international duty after missing in a penalty shoot-out as Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile in 2016.

It was their fourth defeat in a major final in nine years and Messi said afterwards: "For me, the national team is over. I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion."

But he reversed his decision less than two months later and returned to help his country reach the 2018 World Cup, only to be eliminated in the last 16.

Olympic gold but nothing more

Olympics – Beijing Olympic Games 2008 – Day Eleven — Messi helped beat Brazil in the semi-finals. (PA)

Messi won his only international honour at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
He scored the opening goal and assisted another in their 2–1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

After qualifying from the group, he netted in a 2-1 win over Holland to set up a semi-final with Brazil, which Argentina won 3-0.

A 1-0 victory over Nigeria clinched the gold medal, but Messi has never matched that success at international level.