Date: April 3, 2005Competition: La Liga – Matchday 24Fixture: Villarreal CF vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: Estadio El MadrigalKickoff: 9:00 PMWeather: Dry, warm night – 16°CAttendance: 22,000 (sold out)Broadcast: Live across Spain, Argentina, and parts of Europe
Pre-Match: The Storm Ahead
"Villarreal haven't lost here in 7 months.""Riquelme and Forlán are on fire.""Barcelona will drop points tonight."
The pundits were unanimous: this was a trap.
But Rijkaard kept his message simple before the match.
"We are first. They're chasing. Play like leaders."
Messi tied his boots in silence. He knew the crowd would be close. The pitch narrow. The defenders aggressive.
He also knew this was the kind of match that defines champions.
Kickoff – First Half
Minute 1–15
Villarreal pressed high with two banks of four. Riquelme orchestrated from midfield with his usual calm precision.
Messi, starting on the right, was double-marked. His first three touches ended in fouls.
But he didn't complain.He simply kept moving.
Minute 11 — Messi collected a long ball from Iniesta, flicked it over the full-back, and darted into space. He didn't cut in—he crossed low into the box. Eto'o slid in. Shot blocked.
Warning sign delivered.
Minute 19 – The Shock
Villarreal countered quickly.
Forlán picked the ball up near the halfway line, passed to José Mari, who cut back inside and curled it into the corner.
Goal. 1–0 Villarreal.
The stadium shook. Barcelona's bench fell silent. Puyol clapped his hands, urging the defense to stay calm.
But it was Messi who walked back to the center circle with purpose in his eyes.
Minute 25–35: The Answer
Barcelona regained control. Deco and Xavi passed Villarreal into confusion. Ronaldinho began to drift deeper.
And Messi?He adapted.
He started coming inside more, playing in narrow triangles with Xavi and Eto'o.
Minute 31 — Messi took the ball 25 yards from goal. Defender on his back. He spun, shielded, then nutmegged the pressing midfielder.
Space opened.
He drove forward, curled a pass to Eto'o—Shot. Saved.
Rebound fell back to Messi.
He took a breath.
Slotted it home.
Goal. 1–1. Lionel Messi.
Halftime: Villarreal 1–1 Barcelona
Rijkaard didn't say much.
"Be patient. Keep your heads. The goal will come."
Ronaldinho turned to Messi.
"This is your match now, Leo."
Second Half – Controlled Fire
Minute 46–60
Villarreal slowed the tempo. Riquelme dictated calmly. Barça probed carefully.
Minute 54 — Messi sprinted back to dispossess Forlán, earning applause from Rijkaard on the touchline.
But what came next was magic.
Minute 58 — Messi received near midfield. Surrounded. He chopped right, dragged back left, then chipped a diagonal over the defense.
Ronaldinho controlled it on the run, and with the outside of his boot, passed it square—
Goal. 2–1. Eto'o. Assist: Ronaldinho. But created by Messi.
Minute 71 – They Strike Back
Villarreal weren't done. Marcos Senna played a brilliant long ball to Forlán. One touch. One shot.
Goal. 2–2. Minute 71.
Barcelona had to dig deep.
Minute 82 – The Decider
Free kick. 24 yards out. Left side of the box.Ronaldinho stood over it. Then stepped away.
Messi stepped forward.
Rijkaard hesitated. So did the Villarreal wall.
Messi curled it with his left.
Up. Over.Dipping.
GOAL. 3–2. MESSI.
The away section exploded. The bench charged forward. Ronaldinho hugged him mid-run.
"You don't need to wait for Argentina, hermano. You're ready for the world."
Full-Time: Villarreal 2–3 Barcelona
Goals: Forlán (19', 71'); Messi (31', 82'), Eto'o (58')Assists: Messi (free kick, solo), Ronaldinho, Xavi (secondary buildup)Man of the Match: Messi – 2 goals, 1 recovery assist, 4 dribbles, 3 fouls drawn, 90 minutes played
Post-Match Interview
Reporter:
"Leo, you scored the winner tonight in one of the league's toughest stadiums. Does this feel like your team now?"
Messi:
"No. It's still Ronaldinho's team. Eto'o's. Xavi's. I'm just… trying to help them win."
Reporter:
"Are you ready to lead Argentina next?"
Messi:
[smiling] "When Argentina calls, I'll pick up. That's all."
Notebook Entry – April 3, 2005
Anto,It was loud tonight. So loud I could barely hear myself think.But the moment I stood over the ball for that free kick… everything went silent again.Like always. Like it's meant to.I think I'm getting closer, Anto. To the player I want to be.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of April 3, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 35
Goals: 25
Assists: 27
Free Kick Goals (Match): 2
Free Kick Goals (Training): 20
Dribbles Completed: 178
Fouls Suffered: 88
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 37
Goals: 28
Assists: 29
Dribbles Completed: 194
National Team Caps (Senior): 0
National Team Goals: 0
La Liga Standings (After Matchday 24):
1st: FC Barcelona – 69 pts
2nd: Real Madrid – 66 pts
3rd: Sevilla – 62 pts
4th: Villarreal – 59 pts
World Football News – April 3
Premier League: Lampard scores a stunner for Chelsea.
Serie A: Juventus defeat Roma. Buffon saves penalty.
Bundesliga: Youngster Lukas Podolski scores brace for Köln.
Argentina: Radio Rivadavia poll — 62% say Messi should be called up for Copa América.