Barcelona star Lionel Messi is on his worst goalscoring form in La Liga since January 2014, having gone four matches without finding the net.
The Argentine was unable to score in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Getafe at Camp Nou, which pulled his Barca side level on points at the summit of the table with Real Madrid, who have a game in hand.
It marked a fourth game without a goal for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose goal scoring exploits have been renowned throughout a trophy-laden career. Previously, he had failed to net in fixtures against Valencia, Levante and Real Betis.
The last time he endured such a drought came in January 2014, when he went eight games without scoring.
Despite failing to fire recently, he has still managed 14 goals in 19 La Liga matches this season, including hat-tricks against Mallorca and Celta Viga.
And though Messi may not be finding the net currently with his usual unerring ability, he continues to be a decisive presence for Barcelona due to the volume of assists that he continues to rack up.
Indeed, while he has not scored in the last three games, he has still managed to set up six of the Catalans’ seven goals during that span. It is a run that amounts to as many as he had achieved in his previous 20 matches in La Liga.
Messi is now up to 12 assists in only 19 league appearances this season, which is only one fewer than he mustered over the duration of last season, in which he played 34 matches in the Spanish top flight.
He will, nevertheless, be eager to break his scoring duck next Saturday when Eibar visit Camp Nou.
Following that match, Barcelona enter a critical week as they go to Napoli in the Champions League for a last-16 first-leg encounter, then on March 1 they travel to Santiago Bernabeu for a Classico encounter against Real Madrid that is likely to go a long way to determining their success or failure in this season’s title push.
If Messi fails to score in either of those next two league matches, he will have fixtures against Real Sociedad and Mallorca in which to avoid matching the unwanted run of 2014.
rmcfc9
646
I mean, 4 games without a goal isn't even that bad, especially considering Barcelona have won 3 of 4 of those games.
Shina-Ayo
490
That is the pattern of his career.. He is meant to score less and create more... Competition with Cris is the reason he was scoring a lot of goals. Mind you, he is still a World class player without goals because he is a Playmaking Legend!!! Hope Barcelona bring in Strikers... The most important thing is the team victories..
fuhnkieh
282
and tomorrow AF would name Messi POTW
ATÓMICO
257
Don't worry The greatest will Score again....
LazlowMorningstar
177
now most of you people are just being ignorant...the guy is still the best assister np doubt but he is losing his touch I have been watching barca alot lately and it is not like he hasn't been shooting...he is just not as sharp or accurate in front of the goal. I remember a time where out p of 3shots atleast messi would score and lately that hasn't been the case even though he always has atleast six shots per game. and if you remember well there was a time when a freekick meant goal with messi but that hasn't been the case lately. also his dribbles haven't been the same. if you can be honest with yourself you know im right. I have no problem with messi. but you guys need to stop this thing of going overboard when its CR7 and when its messi you find excuses...this article said goal drought yet more than half of the people here are talking assists as if the guy was so busy passing he wasn't shooting...no the guy just hasn't been as good in scoring himself. and he is just 32
Tee-Strings
169
That's what makes him unique. In a team without shape and creativity, Messi still plays well. He doesn't score much because presently because he falls back and orchestrate the team's movement from the middle to the front. Only unrepentant haters and gossip mongers who only follow football news are the ones saying Messi is finished. Messi is a joy to watch...