Lionel Messi appears to have magic powers, and he once predicted that he would score a Champions League hat-trick for Barcelona against Arsenal.
- Complete faith in his own ability
- Helped to down the Gunners
- Still going strong in the United States
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Argentine superstar had his crystal ball in full working order back in 2009-10. He was performing at the peak of his powers at Camp Nou and helped to line up a European quarter-final clash with the Premier League giants from Emirates Stadium.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
That contest was locked at 2-2 from the first leg in north London, but Messi knew that he was going to turn the tie dramatically in Barca’s favour. Fellow countryman Diego Milito has told BoboTV of an in-game conversation that his brother Gabriel had with Messi after making an error that allowed Arsenal to go 1-0 up on the night: “The second leg began with Arsenal leading 1-0 after a mistake by my brother Gabriel. After the goal, Messi went to my brother and told him, ‘Gabi, calm down, I will score a hat-trick’.”
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WHAT THEY SAID
Messi delivered on that promise, but he was not about to stop there. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner went on to help himself to a fourth, with Milito adding: “Messi scored a hat-trick and Barcelona were leading 3-1, but the match remained open. My brother went to Messi and said to him, ‘Leo, come on, score the fourth and just settle the game. Messi said to him, ‘Do you want another goal? Okay…’”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Messi’s remarkable performance helped Barca to progress 6-3 on aggregate. The Liga giants did not go on to take the ultimate prize that season, but they did a year later in 2010-11, while Messi’s last triumph in the Champions League came in 2015 – with the all-time great still picking up major trophies at the age of 36 with MLS side Inter Miami.
Yes Lionel Messi is really magic man