It is sometimes said that a player is only as good as his last game and that very much seems to be the case with Messi in the social media aftermath of his side's crushing 4-0 defeat to Jurgen Klopp's team.
For the second year in succession Messi and Barcelona let a healthy first leg advantage slip to be unceremoniously dumped from a competition they had been the odds-on favorites to win. And despite a bagful of goals this year, including 12 in 9 in the Champions League, the blame appears to have fallen at the feet of the man in the number ten shirt.
For the first time since 2013 the Champions League Final will be played without Messi or his chief rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese, who had his own European heartbreak in the colors of Juventus this season, has now won the competition three times since Messi last lifted the trophy.
For all of his undoubted brilliance, Messi has perhaps not quite been as effective since the days of Xavi and Iniesta supplying him, or when he was flanked by Neymar and a slightly more spritely Luis Suarez.
Liverpool showed on Tuesday that if Messi can be contained, so too are his teammates and this is a point which has resonated around social media, in varying degrees, since the final whistle on a famous night on Merseyside.
Beejayk1
260
Alex Ferguson responds to balotelli and puts an end to debate on Cristiano Ronaldo & Leo mess rivalry " Mario I think he must be ignored because he is obsessed with jealousy and ignorance, if cr7 was in Barcelona, he would be 10 times better than the world. If Messi came from United or real, he wouldn't be ranked among the first three. Messi is a very good player. But Barcelona is much better than Messi, Ronaldinho Gaucho has become a star in Barcelona and today, he is nothing without Barcelona. Leo Messi has become a star in Barcelona, but when he goes to Argentina, he becomes a random player. Cr7 became a star at man United, when he left, the world always noticed. What Messi is doing for Barcelona, Suarez is able to do it. Suarez and Messi are not in shape, Philippe Coutinho will win the match for Barcelona! The explanation is simple: Barcelona is playing for its attackers. What Ronaldo did to United, no one else has been able to do so, what ronaldo has done in Madrid, no one else will be able to do it. You want to see that real madrid is fighting without Ronaldo. The Cr7 is good!... while messi can easily be replaced by Suarez or even by salah as long as barcelona maintains the game to play ".
Aurorailco
185
It's evident that Messi is not lucky in UCL,days ago people praised him ... now they're mocking him... humans are so unbelievable...all in all He is still the GOAT πππ give him the respect he needs π π he did his best... his teammates let him down...he will get the ballon d'Or π just mock him ... but no one is way above Him...πππMESSI π Iove you Leo... always with you
Abatism
113
The only way and the best way to make him shine like a star is to bring in Iniesta from Japan and Xavi back from retirement. I think Messi is gradually reaching his peak and Barcelona seems to be closing their eyes by over relying on the Argentine. Without Salah, Liverpool was a thorn in the flesh. But what can Barcelona do without Messi?
Yasharif
97
From being lavished with rediculous amount of accolades and praise only to be hailed as mere a joker and bottler within 90 minutes ! Best epitome of rollercoaster !!!
Abrar10
84
He scored 12 goals Dragging Barcelona by himself. His Teammates let him down. They just cannot win wthout Messi. I remember Ronaldo dissappeared in the Semi final & the final Last year but likes of Bemzema and Bale Stood up and won the UCL.
Willizeworld
75
If Messi want to win more he should have be selfish at times. 1. He shouldn't relaxed when he score 2 or 3. Messi should have score more than 2 goals at Nou Camp. that late ball he gave to dembele to destroy it, he should have try to score it himself. This is what CR7 will do for people to call him selfish. 2. Ernesto must be sacked, you can't repeat a mistake like this at a Club like Barcelona. He don't read the match before selection, if he does he wouldn't have use the same first 11 at Camp Nou at Anfield. Dembele is a very good player by all standard but Ernesto can't help the best in him to come out. Messi become Messi through a Best Coach who nature him from destroying. And I can't imagine the message he give his boys before the match. it clear that Klopp put something into his boys head before the match. In this match he shouldn't have start Vidal, Roberto, Suarez and Coutinho. He should have start Arthur who hold balls for possession to delay time cos we have 3 goals, Semedo should be started cos he also have the skills to hold balls. He should have known that Leepool fans are going to bull Suarez and Coutinho. Vidal should played in the second half when Liverpool players are get tired to chastised them. 3. Jodi Alba shocked me than any other player, a player of this level, can't stand fans pressure, just giving balls to your opponents just like that. 4. Coutinho must go! yes he must, he have been giving more time to prove himself by now but he couldn't. He is waste. Still Barca. Camp Nou still the Temple