 Kunyora kuenderera kweiyi ndima - Mumushandirapamwe wake wekutanga usina kukanganiswa, mwaka wa2008-09, akarova zvibodzwa makumi matatu neshanu mumitambo makumi mashanu neshanu, achibatsira pamwe naEtoo uye winger Thierry Henry kune zvibodzwa zana mumakwikwi ese, rekodhi panguva iyoyo yekirabhu. Mumwaka wake wokutanga achitungamirirwa nemutungamiriri mutsva weBarcelona, aimbova kaputeni Pep Guardiola, Messi akatamba zvikuru kurudyi, sezvaainge aita achitungamirirwa naRijkaard, kunyange zvazvo panguva ino ari winger wenhema ane rusununguko rwekucheka mukati uye kutenderera pakati. Munguva ye Clásico musi wa 2 Chivabvu 2009, zvisinei, akatamba kekutanga semusere wenhema, akaiswa pakati-mberi asi achidonha zvakadzika pakati penzvimbo yekubatanidza naXavi naAndrés Iniesta. Akaisa chinangwa chekutanga chechikwata chake uye akarova kaviri kuti apedze mutambo mukukunda kwakasimba 62, timu yepamusoro-soro muReal Madrids Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Achidzokera kumapapiro, akatamba fainari yake yekutanga kubvira paakapinda muchikwata chekutanga musi wa13 Chivabvu, achihwina kamwe uye achibatsira chinangwa chechipiri apo Barcelona yakakunda Athletic Bilbao 41kuhwina mukombe weCopa del Rey. Nemigomo 23 yeligi kubva kuna Messi mwaka iwoyo, Barcelona yakava La Liga Champions mazuva matatu gare gare uye yakawana kaviri kechishanu. 