The day Messi 'cracked'

Posted Tuesday, September 30, 2014 by Marca.com

When Leo Messi steps onto the 'Parc des Princes' he will no doubt have a bitter memory lurking at the back of his mind. The Argentine will set foot on the very same pitch that cut him down when he was at the peak of his powers.

On 2nd April, 2013, Barca were playing the first leg of their quarter-final tie against PSG in the Champions League. Forty-two minutes into the game, only four minutes after scoring, 'La Pulga' took off on one of his runs headed towards the French goal.

On this occasion however, his hand went down to his leg and he was unable to continue playing in the second half. Messi had suffered a hamstring injury that was to dog him for more than a year. Although his efforts proved crucial in helping Barça into the semi-finals, the striker only played in five of the twelve matches left till the end of the season.

Last year, Messi's nightmare continued, the player suffering two more serious injuries, and it wasn't until the second half of the season that he started to show his true form again.

This season Messi seems to be back on track and his stats demonstrate he is taking an active role in the team's performances. The Argentine has scored five goals in the first six league matches. But his real contribution can be seen in the number of assists he has given.

On seven occasions Messi has set up his team-mates to score in 'La Liga' and another time in the Champions League. All in all, Messi's figures show he is once more a force to be reckoned with.