Lionel Messi is a name synonymous with soccer greatness and he will go down in history as the greatest player that's ever lived. However, the mercurial Argentine's unquestionable brilliance wasn't enough to lead his current side Inter Miami to glory. The Floridians enjoyed a record-breaking MLS regular season, topping the pile with a best-ever tally of 74 points.
However, the regular season counts for little once the postseason gets underway, as Messi and Miami found out to their detriment. They slumped to a shock 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Atlanta United in game three of their round one tie, with Polish midfielder Bartosz Slisz netting a late winner. Such was the shocking nature of the defeat, online sport betting sites still make Atlanta the rank +2500 outsiders to win the MLS Cup this season, even though they have eliminated the number one ranked team.
While the recent defeat was certainly a stunner, it isn't the first time in Messi's glittering career that he has suffered a humiliating knockout match loss. For Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Argentina, Messi has had to bow out from many competitions. Here are his worst knockout losses over the years.
Bayern Munich Mauling
In August 2020, the soccer world witnessed arguably Lionel Messi and Barcelona's worst-ever defeat, an 8-2 drubbing in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. This defeat was not just another loss; it was a devastating blow to the Blaugrana's once-mighty reputation.
Heading into the contest, the game was considered a genuine 50/50, but it ended up being anything but as the Bavarians steamrolled the five-time champions in an adjusted mini-tournament in Lisbon. Thomas Muller gave the Germans an early lead, only for Barcelona to strike back through a David Alaba own goal. That was as good as it would get.
By halftime, the Catalonians were 4-1 down after Muiller struck again, alongside goals from wingers Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry. Luis Suarez pulled a goal back but from then on it was an all-out onslaught on the Barcelona goal. Joshua Kimmich and current Barcelona man Robert Lewandowski made it 6-2, before a late brace from Philippe Coutinho - on loan to Bayern from Barca no less - made it 8-2. The defeat spelled the end of Barcelona as one of European soccer’s powerhouses, and they are still yet to truly recover.
The Miracle of Anfield
The 2019 Champions League semi-finals saw Messi and Co. on the receiving end of one of the most dramatic comebacks in soccer history. Barcelona entered the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Liverpool with a comfortable 3-0 lead after a blistering Messi brace in the Nou Camp. Yet, under the magical lights of Anfield, you can never write the English side off.
Even though The Reds were missing both Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, they still managed to burst out of the starting blocks with Divock Origi giving the hosts a 1-0 lead on the night in the 7th minute. It stayed that way until halftime, and in the second half, Liverpool masterfully channeled their raucous home support into more goals. Substitute Gini Wijnaldum added a second goal in the 54th minute, before heading home another two minutes later, tying the game at 3-3 on aggregate.
Then, in the 79th minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold's quickly taken corner kick found Origi unmarked in the box. The Belgian striker duly swept home past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to give his side a fourth goal and the aggregate lead. Messi and Barcelona were unable to pull a goal back, handing the victory to Liverpool, who went on to lift the trophy with a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the final in Madrid.
This defeat was particularly painful for Messi, who had delivered a masterclass performance in the first leg. The loss at Anfield was a testament to Liverpool’s relentless spirit and strategic brilliance under Jürgen Klopp. For Messi and Barcelona, it was a harsh reminder of soccer’s unpredictability and the mental fortitude required at the highest level.
The Roman Nightmare
One year before that Liverpool defeat and Barcelona once again found themselves on the wrong side of a miraculous comeback, this time in the quarterfinals. After securing a 4-1 lead in the first leg against AS Roma, the Blaugrana seemed set to progress. However, the return leg in the Eternal City saw a determined Giallorossi side overturn the deficit with a resounding 3-0 victory.
This defeat exposed Barcelona's fragility and inability to manage pressure situations, even against lowly opposition. Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko set the ball rolling in the sixth minute before a Daniele De Rossi penalty deep into the second half put the Romans within one. Eight minutes before full time, Greek defender Kostas Manolas nodded home from a late corner to hand his side the lead on away goals.
Despite a late charge, Barcelona was unable to find the goal they needed to progress, and it was Roma who sealed their spot in the semifinals. For Messi, it was another bitter pill to swallow, as the team’s lack of resilience on the European stage became glaringly apparent.