Lionel Messi’s Champions League final scoring record is often overlooked amid constant debate around Cristiano Ronaldo, yet it remains remarkable in its own right.
Messi last scored in a Champions League final in 2011 at the age of 23, playing for FC Barcelona against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. He netted the second goal in a 3–1 victory, adding to his earlier final goal a famous header against the same opponent in the 2009 final in Rome.
Although Messi reached another Champions League final in 2015 against Juventus, he did not score in that match. Since then, he has not featured in a Champions League final, underlining how long it has been since he last impacted the competition’s biggest stage.
While much attention is placed on Ronaldo’s extensive Champions League records, Messi’s numbers remain extraordinary. The discussion, however, is less about comparisons and more about what might have been if Messi had reached and won more finals in later years.
Football remains unpredictable, and only a handful of players consistently reach Champions League finals. The contrast between Messi’s early dominance and later absence from finals continues to fuel debate among fans.
Softfootball has gathered that Lionel Messi officially left FC Barcelona on 5 August 2021 for Paris Saint-Germain. Despite an agreement on a new contract, Barcelona were unable to finalise the deal due to financial and structural obstacles linked to La Liga’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Messi delivered an emotional farewell press conference on 8 August 2021 before joining PSG shortly after.
Messi’s legacy is secure, but his Champions League final goals remain a snapshot of a golden era that now feels a long time ago.
