'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona are one of the favorites to win the UEFA Champions League title this season. The reason is simple - they have Lionel Messi. Yet, they have been so for the past three years and have fallen short on every occasion.
Messi is undoubtedly one of the finest footballers to ever feature in the game and there are plenty of people who regard him as the greatest football of all time, especially during Pep Guardiola's golden era at the Nou Camp.
However, during the past few seasons, the Argentine has faced stern competition from his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo for the tag of the greatest player of all time and this calls for a look into Messi's fairings.
Domestic success but European heartbreak
Since their last European triumph in 2015, Lionel Messi and Barcelona have added a European Super Cup, a Club World Cup, two La Liga titles, 3 Copa del Rey trophies, and two Supercopa de Espana titles. In all these, Lionel Messi was at the heart of Barcelona's success. He has been in imperious form domestically but somehow, he could not carry that form to the knockout stages of Champions League - where it actually mattered most.
Last season Barcelona succumbed to Roma 4-4 (on away goals) in the quarterfinals. The year before, they could not manage a single goal over two legs against Juventus. In both occasions, Messi looked dull, clueless and fatigued. He couldn't assert himself on the game and watched Barcelona getting dumped out of the competition.
Champions League is a priority
But this season, Messi is determined not to let this happen again. He wants his fifth Champions League trophy which would put him level with his eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo.
With 39 goals and 20 assists in 36 appearances, the Argentine is having one of the best seasons of his career. La Liga is already secured and barring an upset in the final, Copa del Rey seems to be too. He just needs to be the top of his game for the remaining matches in the Champions League. For a player of Messi's caliber, this should not be a magnanimous task.
What Messi needs to do
He needs to do the same as Ronaldo did against Atletico Madrid. The Juventus star showed character and desire when nobody did and ended up with a hat-trick and a performance to remember. This is exactly what Messi needs. He needs to deliver at the big stage.
In the form of Luis Suarez, Dembele, Busquets, Rakitic, Jordi Alba he has the world's best supporting cast anybody could imagine. Now it is Messi's duty to lead by example. He has to give his all and help his teammates to do the same if Barcelona fancy their chances against heavyweights like Manchester City, Liverpool and Juventus.
Ending the GOAT debate
If Messi is able to lead Barcelona to the Champions League (and their third treble), then there would be no question for this year's FIFA the best and Ballon d'Or awards. A sixth Ballon d'Or accolade would definitely stop the debate for the GOAT for the time being.
If he is able to win the Champions League, then his greatness would be justified. Cristiano Ronaldo has done it for the past 5 years. Messi has to do it if he wants to be known the Greatest of All Time.
