Who is better? Lionel Messi in 2009 or 2015?
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/05/2015 at 08:12 GMT
In-depth: As Lionel Messi-inspired Spanish champions Barcelona take the first step towards repeating their treble success of 2009, we ask who is better? Messi today or six years ago?
Lionel Messi celebrates his winner at Atletico.
Image credit: Imago
WHAT HAPPENED?
Treble-chasing Barcelona are La Liga champions for the fifth time in seven years after a clinical Lionel Messi strike secured a 1-0 victory away to Atletico Madrid that wrapped up the title with a game to spare on Sunday.
Messi combined with Pedro Rodriguez and then slotted home from the centre of the penalty area with 65 minutes gone
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a record-extending 26th La Liga hat-trick for Real Madrid in their 4-1 victory away to Espanyol, but it was not enough: Barca cannot be caught now with a four point lead.
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Barcelona's Lionel Messi (2nd L) celebrates his goal against Atletico Madrid with team mates during their match at Vicente Calderon stadium.
Image credit: Reuters
It had been a cagey game against Atletico but the talent of the Argentine shone through again to break the deadlock and help Luis Enrique to his first piece of silverware at the helm of Barcelona.
The Catalan side have dominated the list of La Liga titles in recent years and remain on course to repeat their trophy treble of 2009.
They are through to the Champions League final on June 6 to face Juventus and will play Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey showpiece on May 30.
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FC Barcelona fans
Image credit: AFP
THE REACTION
Luis Enrique (Barcelona ): "We have two more titles to win, but we have picked up the one for consistency. We started 10 months ago with many changes at the club which doesn't understand the idea of transition and was coming off a season having not won anything.
"There is no way that a trainer of a top club will not receive criticism during the year and I knew that. We knew that we wouldn't be given time but we did our best. A league season means effort over 38 games, so I would not pick out any moment. I like a lot how we played today, we had a chance to win the title in a ground it is very difficult to win.
"We deserved to win and we have finished off the campaign. In the end this is a very nice job as you get to make many cules very happy. We still have two trophies left to play for before putting mark on season. Real Madrid were at a great level, which makes winning this even more satisfying."
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona): "La Liga is the most important - we play against everyone home and away. The Champions League is more prestigious but this is more important. Last year we struggled a lot, we weren't at the right level to be champions. You can't win every year but there is no end to this cycle.
"We are a very young team - this is an historic day. This winning era hadn't ended. What Pep Guardiola started with [Lionel] Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta is still going. We have one title now and are two more wins away from a historic season."
Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid): "First of all to congratulate Barca, they deserved to be champions, above all for their superb second half of season. This is absolutely deserved. We can just congratulate them, they reacted very well from December. They have excellent players who can decide a game in any moment.
"They now have two chances to achieve the treble, which is something now in their own hands. In the moment when game was most under control, a piece of genius from Lionel appeared. Although it was also a defensive slip from us, but it was a great goal which made them more comfortable in the game. They then did not need to attack. Above all the image that we were competing, and just beaten by piece of genius from Messi."
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Lionel Messi is on the verge of helping Barcelona win a second treble in six years.
Image credit: Eurosport
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WHAT THE MEDIA SAID ABOUT BARCELONA'S WIN
"So now for the treble. The most powerful juggernaut in European football in 2015 passed through the Spanish capital to pick up what Barcelona hope will be the first of three major trophies in as many weeks. A 1-0 victory against Atletico Madrid, the deposed La Liga champions, meant they regained the principal domestic honour with a match to spare." Ian Hawkey, Daily Telegraph
"The one grey cloud for Barcelona was that Ronaldo rather than Messi looks set to win the Golden Boot award with his hat-trick taking him to 45 goals for the seaon. Barcelona can still win the treble this season. They have a Champions League final on June 6 against Juventus and will play Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final on May 30." Simon Rice, The Independent
HOW MUCH DID MESSI CONTRIBUTE TO THE TITLE PARTY?
Barcelona are not quite a one-man team, but Luis Enrique's arrival as coach and the addition of the Liverpool forward Luis Suarez to their squad has certainly appeared to give the little magician a new lease of life.
Last season he scored 41 in all competitions. This season he is up to 54 with three matches to play including one more Liga match and two Cup finals.
He scored 28 in the League last season, but his winner at Atletico carries him to 41.
Messi has also produced 23 assists this season so far: 18 in Liga, five in the Champions League. Last season, he came up with 11 on the domestic scene and none in Europe.
HOW MUCH DID MESSI REVEL UNDER PEP GUARDIOLA'S TREBLE WINNERS IN 2009?
Believe it or not, Messi contributed 'only' 38 goals to Pep's treble march. While now he is surrounded by Suarez and Neymar, back then he had Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry for company. Eto'o hit 36 and Henry 26 as the trio contributed 100 goals between them. So far Messi, Suarez and Neymar have unearthed 113 goals between them.
In 2009 Messi came up with 23 goals in La Liga, and provided 11 assists. He scored in the final of the Champions League in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Manchester United ending that tournament with nine goals and five assists. It was the first time Barcelona - or indeed any Spanish side - had won the treble. This season could be the second time.
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Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta win the 2009 Champions League.
Image credit: AFP
OUR VIEW
It sounds unbelievable to think that Messi is a better player now than he was back in 2009, but the stats suggest he is improving with age. At the age of 27, he is entering his peak years.
Messi doesn't really have bad seasons, even if 2013-14 and 2014-15 have been slightly less impressive ones , given that he scored 50 Liga goals in 2011-12 and 46 in 2012-13. This season may not be the best of his astonishing career in raw statistics, but there is a marked improvement on last season. And Barcelona are set to profit handsomely in the next few weeks.
If you are offered Messi in 2009 or Messi in 2015, you would take this version every day of the week.
Not that Barcelona are overly concerned. They have luxuriated in both.
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