At a Glance
- On this day in 2010, Lionel Messi hit four goals past Arsenal in the Champions League for FC Barcelona.
- Opposition manager Arsene Wenger called the iconic number 10 a “PlayStation” after the feat.
- Holders Barca won the quarterfinal but were knocked out by eventual winners Inter Milan in the last four.
April 6, 2010 is a holy day for those that worship at the altar of one Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini.
On a blessed night at Camp Nou, the Argentine smashed four goals past Arsenal to help his FC Barcelona team achieve a 4-1 win in a Champions League quarterfinal second leg tie.
Delivering one of the all-time great performances in the competition, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger later dubbed the budding La Masia product a “Playstation Player”.
Arsenal travelled to Barcelona full of hope
The North Londoners had every right to land in Catalonia harbouring hopes of knocking out holders Barca.
Thanks to a late penalty from Messi’s fellow academy pupil Cesc Fabregas, the first leg finished 2-2 amid Zlatan Ibrahimovic hitting an impressive double at the Emirates.
At kick off before 93,000 Culers in Camp Nou, however, Messi had fire in his eyes even if Pep Guardiola’s men got off to a nightmare start.
On 18 minutes, Nicklas Bendtner scored and put Arsenal ahead for the first time in the two-legged tie. Just three minutes later, though, Messi capitalised on a misplaced clearance knocked back into his path and smashed a vicious shot into the top corner past Manuel Almunia.
A first half Messi hat trick for Barcelona
The second was more of a team effort. After Pedro found him rushing into the box following another spilled ball, Messi then clipped over Almunia with his supposedly weaker right foot.
Chasing an equaliser, Arsenal pushed high which proved their undoing. With Messi racing clear on a breakaway move, the then-22-year old let off a trademark chip to guarantee that he took the matchball home.
When it looked like Messi’s hat trick would be the only goals of the evening, he went on to complete what is called a “poker” in Spain by dancing through three hapless Arsenal defenders and driving a low shot through Almunia’s legs.
A GOAT quote for the GOAT
With Barca winning 6-3 on aggregate, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger then came out with an all-time great quote.
“He’s like a PlayStation,” the Frenchman said. “I think he can take advantage of every mistake you make. Barcelona are a very good side but of course they have Messi who can make the difference at any moment in the game.”
Wenger added that Messi “is very young but he can achieve a lot” and predicted that the younger “has six or seven great years ahead of him”.
Of course Wenger’s premonition proved true and then some, with Messi becoming arguably the greatest of all time.
And while Barca had their campaign ended by Inter Milan in the last four, at least the previous round gave football memories for a lifetime.
