Barcelona, April 18: If Lionel Messi isn’t happy at Barcelona, it was impossible to tell when he scored two goals in another masterful performance to brush aside Athletic Bilbao and win the Copa del Rey.
Messi climbed into the tribune after leading the 4-0 win and lifted the trophy high above his head and turned to his team on the pitch below.
For his teammates, coach, and millions of anxious fans, it was easy to read so much into that broad grin, that vigorous shake of the huge cup.
Was Messi finally seeing the folly of ever thinking he could find a better home? Or was the club’s all-time leading scorer relieved that he could give Barcelona at least one more title before saying goodbye?
For Joan Laporta, who returned to the club’s presidency last month, Messi should have an easy choice ahead of him. “Leo is the best player in the world, Leo has deep roots in this club, and I am convinced that he wants to stay,” Laporta said. “We will do all we can for him to stay with us.”
Barcelona’s record 31st cup comes at a crucial junction for Messi and Barcelona. Barcelona has seen its finances badly damaged by the pandemic and its former president Josep Bartomeu was forced to resign after the team’s poor performance last season and alleged administrative irregularities.
The cup puts an end to a title drought since Barcelona won the 2019 Spanish league.
Bilbao has now lost two Copa del Rey finals this month at La Cartuja Stadium in Seville. Bilbao lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad just two weeks ago when they met in the 2020 final that had been postponed due to the pandemic. Sociedad’s reign as Copa champion lasted all of 14 days.
Barca controlled the game from the start although they walked into the dressing room at 0-0 by halftime.
The second half continued with Messi dictating the pace, and now Unai Simón had to save Bilbao. But the Spain goalkeeper could do nothing to deny Antoine Griezmann in the 60th minute who sliced in a one-touch strike off De Jong’s cross from the right.
With Bilbao reeling, Barcelona struck again in the 63rd — this time from the left. Messi played a subtle part in this goal, making a dummy run to open space for De Jong to push forward and head in Jordi Alba’s cross.
De Jong then helped Messi slalom through Bilbao from near the middle of the field into the heart of the area by exchanging two quick passing combinations with the star. Messi capped the move by dribbling past the last defender before slotting in his team’s third goal in the 68th.
Messi rounded off his stellar performance that earned him a 35th career title for Barcelona when he fired in a pass from Alba. Messi had again showed, at age 33, that he can still completely dominate a final. (AP)
