Date: June 5, 2005Competition: La Liga – Matchday 35 (Final Game)Fixture: Athletic Bilbao vs. FC BarcelonaVenue: San Mamés Stadium, BilbaoWeather: Cloudy, 16°CAttendance: 42,000
June 3 – The Final Week
Barcelona's training was light. The pressure was gone—La Liga already belonged to them. But for Messi, this was more than a formality. It was the final stamp on a season that had changed his life.
"One more game," he wrote in his notebook."Then I rest. But not until I leave something behind."
Team Talk – Rijkaard's Message
In the dressing room before the match, Rijkaard kept it short:
"Play. Smile. Make it beautiful."
The staff had arranged for several younger academy players to travel with the team. Messi, now a star, welcomed them warmly. Some were only a year or two younger—but looked at him like he was already a legend.
Barcelona Starting XI:
Valdés – Belletti, Puyol (C), Oleguer, SylvinhoIniesta, Deco, MottaMessi, Giuly, Eto'o
Ronaldinho was rested but smiled from the bench, shouting encouragement as the players walked out.
Kickoff – First Half
San Mamés was roaring, even though Bilbao had little to play for. They wanted to spoil the champions' party.
Minute 3 – Messi touched the ball for the first time. Two defenders pressed. He slipped between them, passed wide, and reset calmly.
Minute 9 – A quick one-two between Iniesta and Deco found Messi near the box. He flicked it over a sliding challenge, volleyed—
Just wide.
Even the Bilbao fans gasped.
Minute 19 – Goal! Barcelona 1–0
Messi sprinted down the right, left his marker in the dust, then squared a perfect pass to Eto'o. First-time shot—Goal!
Messi didn't celebrate much. Just a quiet fist pump. Eto'o pointed back at him.
Minute 33 – Physical Challenge
Bilbao upped the aggression. Messi was fouled hard near the halfway line—he flipped in the air and landed hard.
Rijkaard stood up. So did Ronaldinho.But Messi got up. No complaints. Just brushed the dirt off and restarted.
Halftime: 1–0 Barcelona
In the tunnel, a young Bilbao player came up to Messi and said:
"You're… incredible."
Messi smiled softly:
"Thank you. Keep working. That's the secret."
Second Half – Total Control
Minute 49 – Messi won a free kick just outside the box. He stepped up, focused, took a breath—
Curled it toward the top corner—
Saved by the fingertips!He groaned but nodded. The wall was just a bit too tall.
Minute 65 – Goal! Messi! 2–0
A throw-in from Belletti turned into a quick one-two with Deco. Messi took it on the half-turn, danced past two, and toe-poked it between the keeper's legs.
GOAL!
Now he celebrated. Arms wide. A smile for the first time in days.
Ronaldinho stood and applauded from the bench.
"That's my boy," he whispered.
Minute 80 – Substitution
Messi was subbed off again—to another standing ovation, even from rival fans.
He gave his shirt to a young boy in the front row wearing an Argentina jersey.
Full-Time: Athletic Bilbao 0–2 FC Barcelona
Goals: Eto'o (19'), Messi (65')Assists: Messi (1), Deco (1)Man of the Match: Lionel Messi – 1 goal, 1 assist, 6 successful dribbles, 3 shots, 90% pass accuracy
Post-Match
The team paraded the La Liga trophy around the pitch after the whistle. Confetti rained down. The young players from La Masia joined in the celebrations.
Messi lifted the trophy with Puyol and Eto'o.
"We've just begun," Puyol said to him."Next year… we go all the way."
Messi nodded.
"We will."
Notebook Entry – June 5, 2005
Anto,One last goal. One last assist. One last standing ovation.And the league in our hands.I never imagined this dream would move so fast.Now… time to rest. But only for a moment.I'll be back on the field before they can forget my name.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Final 2004–05 Season Stats (Club Only)
Matches: 51
Goals: 47
Assists: 44
Dribbles Completed: 284
Fouls Suffered: 140
Free Kick Goals (Match): 4
Minutes Played: 3,626
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 53
Goals: 50
Assists: 47
Dribbles Completed: 302
World Football News – June 5
La Liga Ends: Barcelona crowned champions. Real Madrid finish second.
Ballon d'Or Watch: Ronaldinho, Lampard, and Shevchenko lead. Messi named as top-10 outsider.
Summer Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid eye Robinho, Bayern Munich targeting young Spanish talent.
FIFA U-20 World Cup begins soon — Messi rumored to be included.