With his contract at Barcelona set to expire this summer, Argentine star will look to end goal-drought against Real Madrid in tonight’s big battle
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. Pic/Getty Images
Lionel Messi is set to play his 45th-and possibly final-Clasico-match against Real Madrid. The star status of the Barcelona forward, whose contract expires this summer, has been built on numerous titles and scoring records, as well as his exploits in one of soccer’s top rivalries. But not even Real coach Zinedine Zidane wants Saturday to be Messi’s last chance to torment Madrid.
Leo must stay: Zidane
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“I don’t want this to be the last Clasico for Messi,” Zidane said on Friday. “Hopefully he stays at Barcelona. He’s good there and it’s also good for the Spanish League. We know how good a player he is.” Messi, who turns 34 in June, was frustrated in his attempt to leave Barcelona last summer. He said in December that he will decide his future when this season is over and he can walk away for free if he wants.
Messi has scored in a Clasico a record 26 times starting when he netted his first hat- trick for Barcelona at age 19 in a 3-3 draw with Real in 2007. For a decade, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner fed on his personal rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, with both stars exchanging goals and stellar performances to lead their sides. But since Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, Messi has failed to score in six consecutive matches against Madrid.
Best version of Barca
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman hopes that Messi can end that drought and deliver a victory that would lift his team into first place before current leader Atlético Madrid visits Real Betis on Sunday. “I hope that Messi can prove decisive because we need him to play at his best and for Barca to also show its best version. For our attack, our passing game, and to create scoring chances, we need Leo,” Koeman said.
26
Record No. of goals Lionel Messi has scored in El Clasicos
Six
No. of consecutive games Messi has failed to score in, against Real Madrid
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