Days after being voted the fifth best player in the world, Lionel Messi scored two world-class free-kicks in a derby thumping of Espanyol.
Match Report
Lionel Messi produced an incredible individual performance as LaLiga leaders Barcelona demolished Espanyol 4-0 in Saturday's Catalan derby.
Messi placed fifth in this week's Ballon d'Or voting, the first time he has been outside the top three since 2006, but offered a timely reminder of his enduring brilliance at RCDE Stadium.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was inspirational for Barca, opening the scoring with an unstoppable free-kick, then setting up Ousmane Dembele for a superb curling finish.
Match Events
17'GOAL! Espanyol 0-1 Barcelona (Messi)
GOOOOOAAAALLLL!! Espanyol 0-1 Barcelona! Some Messi magic gives Barcelona the breakthrough. Duarte brings down the forward around 27 yards from goal to concede a free-kick, and he punishes the Espanyol centre-back by lifting the ball over the wall and into the top corner of Diego Lopez's net.
26'GOAL! Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona (Dembele)
GOOOOAAALLL! Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona! Dembele doubles Barcelona's tally with a fine finish into the top corner. The Frenchman works the ball onto his right foot after being picked out in the box by Messi and guides it past Diego Lopez.
45'GOAL! Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona (Suarez)
GOOOOAAALLL! Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona! What a way for Barcelona to round off a dominant first half, surely killing off the match through this Suarez strike. The Uruguayan striker latches on to Dembele's through-ball, holds off David Lopez and somehow squeezes the ball through the legs of Diego Lopez from the tightest of angles.
65'GOAL! Espanyol 0-4 Barcelona (Messi)
GOOOOAAALLL! Espanyol 0-4 Barcelona! Messi remains on course for that fourth career hat-trick, as he converts yet another long-range free-kick. This one was just as good as the set-piece goal that opened the scoring, sending the ball up and over the wall into the opposite corner to his first.
73' OFFSIDE! Duarte's goal disallowed
ESPANYOL GOAL RULED OUT! Pique brings down Garcia to concede a free-kick, from which Garcia's delivery is converted by Duarte. VAR is consulted to ascertain whether Duarte was offside when volleying the free-kick past Ter Stegen, which it turns out he was.
Line-ups
Espanyol XI: Diego López, H.Pérez, V.Sánchez, Ó. Duarte, Dídac , J.López, D.López, S.Darder, Borja Iglesias, M.Roca, Melendo
Subs: Roberto Jiménez, S.García, Rosales, Granero, Piatti, Naldo, Baptistao
Barcelona XI: L. Messi, L. Suárez, Piqué, I. Rakitić, Vidal, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, M. ter Stegen, Lenglet, Semedo, O. Dembélé
Subs: T. Vermaelen, Philippe Coutinho, Jasper Cillessen, D.Suárez, Munir, Carles Aleñá, Juan Miranda
shubhtiwari
624
maradona, pele ,ronaldo all are fight for glory as they think they are the best
Jhoxua11
449
Pelé: Oh no I was talking about thiago Messi 😅😅😅
RealMd13
362
😂😂😂 Messi is a Lion 🦁 but a good lion he is merciful Sweet and he has a good heart ♥️ we love him cuz is the king of La Liga and the king 👑 of world Futbol and Espanyol fans and players I know you could be mad 😡 at Messi right now for punishing you today cuz a father can not punished his own kids for no reason but you have to understand that Messi punished you today to show PeLe who he is but I promise next time he will go easy cuz we all love Messi ♥️ but we dont love him when he is pissed 😡 off so PeLe please stop!
Akmillydavincy
329
i think the match should be dedicated to Pele for the headers which were played by leo messi
Mosanya
312
Messi is the best player in the world either with one or two, I hope pele changes his opinion about him, he is the greatest player of all time with or without Balon Dor. Just look two freekicks....wow And to dembele, his goal was superb, Barca still needs him, he is the future. And Suarez, the goal was ok..but the fans needs more from you but it was great scoring a goal back from your injury.. well done GREAT TEAM WORK
Leieche02
281
I'm really proud today
eloksjoseph
277
all front 3 were involved in the 4 goals for Barcelona this match First Class performance from Messi Suarez and dembele to out Espanyol to the sword
nudkmopstu
273
Diego Lopez: I'm not playing against Messi again
rkpamia4517
259
The goals of Messi are unaccountable as they were scored by the left foot. He had a chance to score from his head but sorry it didn't convert so Messi was goalless tonight. But Suarez left foot goal and Dembele's right foot goal will be counted.
datsama
255
the ballon d'or, picici or the golden ball doesn't show how good lionel messi is. I think the only thing that can do that is to change the name of football to lionel messi as for dembele he was magnificent today hope to see this kind of performance from him in subsequent matches all in all the team was magnificent . bring on tottenham. visca el barca ... . !. .
dettaboss4l
244
the funniest thing in the match was when I saw espanyol fans leaving at the 66 min when messi scored again😂😂😂
Williej
242
Messi breaks old records and sets new ones best two free kicks in one game. the likes the world has never seen before. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 . he is the greatest of all time. Dembele shuns critics with his wonderful gaol Suarez comes back from injury after missing 3 Barca matches ,just to score 😂😂😂😂
Asap24
242
Referee be like : Barca you have a penalty Messi be like : Please can I take a free kick
Naimurrahmansiam
240
I had only one more game in my mind to see Messi back in form.And this guy never disappoints.Everyone were terrific.Glod to see this as we will be facing Spurs.Can t imipagine what would be their condition after this game.Dembele,Vidal and Coutinho all the players who everyone are used to put a question mark at are playing their best.It may be a wpeasy opponent now but with this kind of dominance display Barca are capable of beating anyone.And what to say about this x factor with us👇👇
Leieche02
230
I'm really proud today
Zuncdelprs
220
Don't waste ur priceless time On discussing Pele's Many Skill vs Messi's one skill... The Magic of Messi is On. First book a bed in hospital for Pele..and Ask Someone how many goals did Pele score from Free kicks with his many Skill ?? and Enjoy !!
Bohcimrt
181
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger!!
Neerajk21
180
50% comments about messi freekicks other 50% comments about pele 😂😂😂😂
JonathanArw
180
When you have given up because of Messi’s Magic...
FaRash
177
This is Messi's 8th free kick this year in La liga, 3 more than 5 top European leagues have collectively scored
Alido_LaRoja
159
Messi is becoming more and more a Free-kick master, not only is he now setting records, but he simply enjoys scoring them, it won't be long till we hear of him scoring a free-kick hat-trick..., congrats Leo, Respect from a Madrid and a CR7 fan
NikNar
154
That second free kick goal was pure genius. He curled the ball at the first one. The goalkeeper was waiting for the ball to curl at the second one too, but it didn't. How many times does he need to prove that he is the real G.O.A.T. SShhhhhhh!!
Shridharrai
132
one word for messi the fighter....he never talks much ..to reply his haters.. he jst only replies perfectly with his perfomances...nd thats why i respect him ...a lot. not only his free kicks but his assist to dembele proves that how dedicated he is....i thought he lost the ball but no...he provides a wonderful assiat nd dembele scores a beuty....phenomenol messi .. visca barca..
jqwoffi
128
Pele is just saying what he likes ... how can you compare yourself with messi ... during your time offside was not in football , there were no good defenders no VAR... that's why you were able to score more goal.. . Messi is the best of all time .... @FCBarcelona @LaLigaEN
Jouamrstu
123
The French man has continued to show almost in every match that he is a force to recknon with in future Barcelona. I think Barcelona board will now have a rethink of offloading dembele to another club. my humble advice is that dembele should stay.
myakflowz8
103
thats it....keep Dembele in the starting 11 and also Vidal. Dembele will show and mean more to us if u keep believing in him. and Vidal is a machine. Barca needed this in their midfield. and Messi as always with the magic Forca Barca
PrinceSl
96
People want Barcelona to sell Dembele and buy Neymar? Thanks you can have your Neymar we will take our dembuz, Dembele is only 21 while Neymar is already 26, he have time to learn from Messi and later become the best when Messi retire. Something we wanted Neymar to be but he was impatient. Dembele and Messi are understanding each other well now.
PrinceSl
52
Messi is Messi, there is nothing else to say about him that will be new. I don't blame Balon D'or organizers because Messi have set the bar too high that if he don't reach that bar every time people will think he isn't doing well. But when you try comparing him with other mortals that's when you will understand how great he is. I am not just talking about his goals but that assist, I thought he lost the ball already. What a magician....