Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi has previously shared why he “deeply regrets” missing a Champions League match against Arsenal.
Throughout his illustrious career, Messi has participated in some of football’s most iconic games.
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In fact, no other player has won more trophies than Messi, who boasts 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League victories, two Ligue 1 titles, a Copa America, and a World Cup, among others. ..Continue Reading
However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner expressed his deep regret over missing the final of Barcelona’s 2006 Champions League triumph against Arsenal in Paris.
The Catalan giants managed to come from behind to defeat Arsenal 2-1, but Messi, then 18 years old, was sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
The young Messi was so distraught about missing the final that he opted not to attend the celebrations.
Speaking to Spanish publication AS back in 2021, he said: “I’m sorry I didn’t [go out]. I didn’t realise what was happening. At least I would have liked to be on the bench that night.
“Until my injury, [against Chelsea in the round of 16], I participated in every Champions League game in my career.
“I was disappointed. I deeply regret that episode. We won that Champions League and I was not sure what would happen again because it is a difficult competition to win.”
Messi went on to play in three more Champions League finals, scoring in Barcelona’s victories in 2009 and 2011.
Not surprisingly, he considers his looping header against Manchester United in 2009 as one of the most cherished goals of his career.
Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2017, Messi said: “It was hard to imagine that I’d have a chance to score a header with a defender like [Rio] Ferdinand near me, but I saw that I didn’t have anyone marking me and the ball settled down so I could make the shot.
“When the ball Xavi put in was in the box, I could already see myself scoring and thank God it was possible.
“It was a very important goal in every way: for the team, for the way that final was being played and for me. It’s one of my favourite goals.
“After missing the 2006 final through injury, it was very special to play this final and score. It completed a season in which we won everything.”
