FCBARCELONA.CAT

Skip menu

Main menu

Content menu


Top of page

Content

Link to related content

Football

25.08.2009 14:45

Shakhtar a special opponent for Messi

Berta Brau


The final of the European Super Cup will be doubly special for Leo Messi. Firstly, because it’s a title he has never won and secondly because he made his European debut against the Ukrainian side.


On 7th September 2004, Leo Messi was in Frank Rijkaard’s starting line-up for the last Champions League group phase match against Shakhtar Donetsk. At the time, the Argentinean star was still a reserve team player and the match was his first in Europe with the first team, a debut he still remembers. “It was very cold and we lost. I remember that a lot of reserve team players made their debuts that day”.

Revenge four year later

07-12-04_Web_Messi_01.jpgThe defeat against Shakhtar cast a shadow over his European debut but last year Messi got the chance to take his revenge, a chance he didn’t squander. His two goals catapulted Barça to victory: “We won that match and I was able to score two goals right at the last minute when the match was finishing”.

Food for thought

Leo Messi believes the last meeting with the Ukrainians taught people a useful lesson: “It gave us food for thought because the match turned complicated. People thought it would be easy, a formality. We know that matches of this importance are never easy. We learned a good lesson that day - not to let it happen again”.

Shakhtar a special opponent for Messi
A medal he lacks
Despite his youth, Leo Messi has won an impressive collection of medals with Barça: 3 leagues (2004/05; 2005/06; 2008/09), two Champions Leagues (2005/06 and 2008/09), one Spanish Cup (2008/09) and two Spanish Super Cups. He’s also picked up an under-20s World Cup winner’s medal and an Olympic Gold medal with Argentina. So the European Super Cup is one of the few medals missing from his collection.


Top of page

Back to top

Related content

Football News


Back to top
Top of page