Olympics 2008: Messi’s Triumph Over Nigeria Despite Ignoring Barcelona
During the summer of Olympics 2008, the Argentine was starting to be one massive name in Barcelona and his preceding season had been a stunner with him scoring as many as 16 goals while registering those same amount for assists.
This period, nevertheless, the Blaugrana ended up 3rd and in a rut in 2007/08. Barcelona did not want to allow Messi’s Triumph Over Nigeria, who was set on the Olympics this year as they take place in his homeland and has never featured at that competition before, leave for Tokyo having just installed a new coach but with no Champions League group stage berth assured next season.
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He has already made many brave decisions during this summer… another one? He sold two of the club’s star players Ronaldo and Deco, but allowed Messi to take part at the 2008 games when he spotted a sulky-looking youngster in training who was not happy about being told that Barcelona would prevent him from going away with Argentina.
Here’s the incident from Messi’s perspective, in an interview with Juan Pablo Varsky.
Messi told the journalist: “Nobody wanted me to go to the Olympics with Argentina” [via Albiceleste Talk]
“Pepe had just arrived, we were already training and there was a lot of talk as to whether I would go to the Olympics or stay. We needed to get ourselves into the Champions League, come what may. I was looking miserable in training because I wanted to go the Olympics and he saw that.
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He’s very clever; nothing fools him. Quickly, he learned who I was; after all, I am an open book. When he said to me, “Don’t worry we will qualify for the Champions League. My message to him [after the Dakar] is simply, go and win this Games then come back; it’s going be a long year and we’re gonna like it. “
Subsequently, Barcelona defeated Polish side Wisla Krakow in the play-off round to seal their place on the Champions League. The next year they won the competition itself, and every other trophy available in an unparalleled sextuple. Indeed, with 38 goals and eventually matching Henry’s total for assists (19), Messi was the top player in that category globally for the first time ever-confirmation Guardiola had picked well when he put his No.
The diminutive magician enjoyed a solid tournament as he scored as many goal contributions as games played (5).
Having outclassed their South American counterparts, Brazil Argentina in the match that produced goals galore; it would be Nigeria who will later demolish Belgium against at Final.
The Nabisco Cup had a final on the horizon for Messi, against Nigeria again and three years after he inspired Argentina to Youth Championship glory over the Flying Eagles.
The Beijing National Stadium contest, a tight affair that looked like being rounded off all square until Angel Di Maria imparted his influence shortly before the hour. He was famously played in by a Lionel Messi through-ball and chipped the on-rushing Dele Ajiboye.
