Whether you think Lionel Messi is the best footballer on the planet, present or past, it’s difficult not to be impressed with his masterpiece, leading Barcelona to a big 4-2 win in Seville. Unless you’re a Sevilla fan.
While the internet is flooded with the stats – hat tricks, career goals, goals vs a certain club and more, the important thing to remember here is Barcelona in their quest for an 8th league title in 11 years: It gives the side 10 points of a lead ahead of Atletico Madrid and 12 over Real Madrid. Sure, the champions have a match more for now, but overcoming falling behind twice against one of the best teams in Spain in a very difficult stadium… well, think of the priceless catchline from the Mastercard ads.
“Just” a championship perhaps won’t be enough to make this season a truly joyous one, it never is at Barcelona – the Champions League has been gone, for their taste, for too long. Regardless of what the continental arena offers in the end, the era of Messi in the La Liga as he approaches his 32nd birthday is far from over.