Lionel Messi's top 5 performances of the Season

#2. Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (March 4, 2018)

Barcelona v Atletico Madrid - La Liga — His wonderful free-kick was enough to settle an intense clash at the Camp Nou

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against Deportivo La Coruna to hand Barcelona the La Liga title 2 weeks ago. However, it was not that match that technically won Barcelona the league. Rather, it was their recent clash against Atletico Madrid in March that technically decided the title race.

After drawing 3 of their last 5 league outings, the Blaugrana afforded Atletico Madrid the chance to move closer to them on the table. They were only 5 points ahead and the Rojiblancos could bring it down to 2 if they managed to earn a victory at the Camp Nou. These situations made the clash a very important and intense one as both teams geared up for a big showdown.

Trust the big man for the big job. Lionel Messi stepped up at the vital moment and continued with his fantastic influence. There weren't many developments in the match as both teams were careful and remained calm. But a Lionel Messi's brilliance was enough to settle the tie.

Barcelona got a free kick at the edge of the opposition box in the 26th minute. The Argentine stepped forward and curled a perfect left-footed effort into the top corner of the net. The victory sent the Blaugrana 8 points ahead and killed Atletico's dream of catching the Catalan giants in the title race.

About the author

Jidonu is a European and international football news writer at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has around 7 years of previous experience working with the likes of Tribuna and SportRaba, Jidonu has a good eye for detail and has the ability to created cohesive articles, and reporting exploits have also led him to exclusively cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the past.

Jidonu’s tryst with football started after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, being mesmerized by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Barcelona philosophy and approach towards the game under Pep Guardiola further fueled the burgeoning love for the sport, and he has been a Culer ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is his favorite player and is the one true GOAT for him over Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's brace led to La Albiceleste lifting the cup left a lasting impact on him. His love for Messi also sees him follow Major League Soccer apart from Europe’s top five leagues.

In his free time, Jidonu raps and produces music, and also enjoys reading and swimming.

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Edited by Anirudh Menon