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Lionel Messi explained why he “regretted” missing the UEFA Champions League final against Arsenal.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. (Picture Credit: X)
Lionel Messi is the most decorated footballer of all time, with 46 trophies adorning his cabinet. His collection includes three Champions League titles, all of which he won with Barcelona. Notably, Messi scored in two of those finals but missed the remaining one due to a hamstring injury. In 2006, Barcelona overcame Arsenal to become the European champions. Messi, who was only 18 years old at that time, failed to appear in the final in Paris. Despite his absence, the Catalan giants pulled off a roaring comeback in the match to secure a 2-1 victory.
Earlier in 2021, Messi explained why he “regretted” missing the Champions League final against Arsenal. The Argentine icon sustained the unfortunate injury in a Round of 16 game against Chelsea. Messi was left so upset that he didn’t even celebrate the final victory with his Barcelona teammates.
“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,” Messi said during an interview with Spanish outlet AS.
“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,” he added.
Messi played his first Champions League final in 2009 when Barcelona faced Manchester United in Rome. While Samuel Eto broke the deadlock for the Spanish outfit early in the first half, Messi scored the second with a brilliant header in the 70th minute. In 2017, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner shared that that goal would rank among his favourites.
“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,” Messi told 442.
“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,” he explained further.
Messi is currently gearing up to feature in the pre-season tour with Inter Miami. The MLS side is set to play five matches in four different counties ahead of the 2025 season.
