Features
DOM 28.04.2019
It has been some time now since people have run out of superlatives to describe Lionel Messi. His star has shone so brightly for so long. It is a struggle to recall the times when he was not the leader of FC Barcelona. And now he has been crowned champion of LaLiga Santander for the tenth time.
The Argentine is the heart and soul of Barça and he has had yet another brilliant season. Messi kicked off the campaign with a brace against D. Alaves. Now, 31 goals later, the Rosario-born star is his side's top scorer and also top of the LaLiga Santander goalscoring standings. That first match also saw him net his first free kick of the season – one which turned out to be the first of many.
When Barça are playing, free kicks are synonymous with goals. And goals are synonymous with Messi. The Argentine has put six direct free kicks in the back of the net, the first of them under the Alaves wall on Matchday 1.
Free kicks are Messi's specialty, and so are hat-tricks: a total of three this term. His first victims were Levante UD, the first team this season unable to prevent him getting on the score sheet in triplicate. Sevilla FC and R. Betis were the next ones to suffer. Particularly memorable was the one he produced against the Sevillians: one volley, one shot into the top corner, and one dainty chip.
However, scoring goals is not the only part of his game. The Barça number 10 is also top of the assists table, both for his club and in LaLiga Santander as a whole. Once again, Messi has proven his worth and propelled the Catalan club to glory. He is, without a shadow of a doubt, the leaders’ leader.
© LALIGA - 2019