'It's impossible to stop him' - Lionel Messi's 'miracle' Barcelona skill embarrassed Jerome Boateng

Publish date: 2024-07-12

With two European trebles to his name, Jerome Boateng will be heartbroken that his most famous moment was getting left on the floor.

That, though, is what Lionel Messi does to you, often in the most embarrassing circumstances possible.

Bayern Munich were at the peak of their powers in 2015 under Pep Guardiola, who had again perfected football, this time in Bavaria.

All that was left for the Spaniard was to take his third Champions League title, which he looked well set to do, blasting through the competition before the potentially final stumbling block.

Standing in his way was his former side, Barcelona, who, despite a tactical drop-off from their legendary coach, had only improved when it came to personnel.

Two of the incredible ‘MSN’ front three, Luis Suarez and Neymar, were the ones that won the final in a 3-1 win over Juventus, but against Bayern, it was the Messi show.

Guardiola’s side had seemingly survived the Camp Nou, mainly thanks to Manuel Neuer, for the first hour of their semi-final clash, but, as per usual, one moment of Messi magic shattered their efforts.

With a trademark shot on the edge of the box, just to the right of the goalkeeper, Neuer stood no chance in the 77th minute, but what came next was even more special.

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Collecting the ball back in his favourite slot on the right side, Messi squared up to Boateng, who wouldn’t let him cut back inside onto his left foot, which turned out not a problem in the slightest.

The German international was left flopping to the floor like a fish out of water thanks to an extraordinary move from the Argentine legend, before Messi dinked an on-rushing Neuer with ease.

‘The word miracle is no longer enough,’ said German outlet BILD, in what they called Guardiola’s ‘worst ever night’.

The Manchester City boss seemed to agree post-match, in despair at what he’d just witnessed.

"We had a lot of control but Messi's talent just made the difference, that just happens” he said.

“In the end we lost our balance a bit. Barca are a great team and we have some problems.

"It's impossible to stop him. Nobody can control Messi."

The internet and memes soon took over, with the exceptional goal an icon in the Champions League intro for years to come, embedded alongside great moments such as Zinedine Zidane’s volley against Bayer Leverkusen.

For Boateng, he could only laugh.

Speaking a year on from the event, he said: "That fall didn't affect me, I laughed at myself too.

“When you fall or slip and someone scores, it's something normal, these things happen.

“They happen to me and to other players, these things don't worry me. For me, Messi is the best player in the world. This is football. I'm a defender, this doesn't kill me or anything.

He added: “You simply can't stop Messi alone. With [Cristiano] Ronaldo it can sometimes work because he bets above all on his physical power.

"However, Ronaldo has changed his game and looks less for the dribble and concentrates more on finishing.

“That has made it more difficult to play against him because he has a great sense of anticipation and finishes with just one touch.”

Boateng seemed to be over the moment, but later couldn’t help but take a jibe back when a question and answer session on Twitter descended into a Messi love-fest.

In the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic during early 2020, time and time again the German was asked about that infamous night, and he finally responded.

“Honestly, I would love to see each one of you defending against Messi,” he replied to one user.

Later, ending the session, he posted the picture and wrote: “Here you go - something to laugh [at] these tough days.

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'It's impossible to stop him' - Lionel Messi's 'miracle' Barcelona skill embarrassed Jerome Boateng

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