you see... diversify, don't just depend on one player

Wasn't really worried about Barca, though if you are, I hear Neymar is itching to diversify us further. But I was going to be really disappointed if Messi didn't destroy that 40 year old record. Even if Messi himself is apparently not obsessing over it, I am.

Easy bro. He could have played a pass that was more difficult than you might think (there was a defender in the middle) in an unimportant match rather than taking his chances with something he's done successfully a zillion times and which was really quite feasible for him and only didn't work out because the keeper got a slight touch on the ball and a less slight touch on Messi himself. On a side note, 90% of forwards out there would have gone down and hoped for a penalty - even though it wasn't, you couldn't even book them for a dive because the keeper clearly got Messi along with the ball.

Hardly "poetic justice" to get injured like that, and just about the strictest definition of "putting personal achievement ahead of the team" I've ever read.

fair point that it's not an important match, but i'm pretty sure he could have easily picked that pass.

benfica was guilty of the same thing in their first chance, but it was even more obvious because there wasn't a defender in the middle.

You don't now what was on his mind and his vision at that point so you can't judge his decision to pass the goalie, especially for Messi who is the most 'team-play' world class top striker I know so far. Hope he gets better soon.

got to respect Messi. Most other players would have dove on that challenge.

@Jjbai: Fair enough - he could have picked the pass of course, I'm just pretty sure it wasn't THAT easy cause it's a narrow gap between keeper and defender, you can't know 100% who goes which way at which split-second, etc.

Ya it will be normal for him to score hat tricks against dumbo reina

hahahahahahaha

I don't see anyone saying anything for staying on his feet, because usually a keeper coming out like that most players would just fall. No not Messi, He become injured when the keeper caught him (see the pain on his face it gives it away) and he still tried to play and score.

Messi wont last in EPL lol If he hogs ball too much , defenders will take you out , before you know you will be unavailable for season lol

Wow CFR Cluj-Napoca...really?...

Wait, Man Utd actually lost that game. and that team they lost to is actually worse than Benfica.

oh wait liverpool aren't even in the CL,shhhh
get above west bromwich first then talk..so shhhh

We didnt care if we won or lose that match...some one please remind Miggz10 where liverpool is in the table.

hey Miggz10, where is Liverpool? 11th place, where is United? #1

Do you mean, Where would Messi stack up without all the help he gets?

I'd argue that, statistically speaking, his chances of getting injured are still higher when he plays for 90 minutes than when he plays for 30, and players warm up before they come on. Plus it's Barcelona, so it's not like a Russian-type freezeover down there, probably like 10/50 degrees at this time in the evening.