Lionel Messi scores lovely Champions League winner, of course

Lionel Messi scores lovely Champions League winner, of course

By Brooks Peck

Barcelona's second Champions League final win over Manchester United in the last three years once again proved just how dominant they are. There's no denying it. There's no way to blame it on a UEFA/UNICEF conspiracy. They're just that good.

Many observers wondered if this side was on the brink of a downturn after winning every trophy available to them in 2009. So how do they respond? With a 3-1 win over Man United in London for Europe's top prize. All three of their forwards scored, all three of their midfielders provided the assists and they maintained possession so consistently that, at times, it was easy to forget that their opponents were even on the pitch. And to top it all off, the deciding goal came off a typically great shot from Lionel Messi, who's astonishing 31 goals in 33 Spanish league games this season were only bested by Cristiano Ronaldo's record-breaking 40 goal season.

Man United's defenders stood and watched as the reigning World Player of the Year took a shot from the top of the box that just curled away from the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. That broke the 1-1 deadlock in the 54th minute after Wayne Rooney pulled the Premier League champions even before halftime. And in the 69th minute, David Villa sealed it by putting one in the top corner just because he can do that.

Messi got a lot of grief for not scoring a single goal in the World Cup last summer, but with another key goal in a Champions League final, he proved once again that he does come through in big matches (at least, for club if not for country). He also proved that when he trips a pitchside microphone wire while rushing to celebrate his goal in the corner, it's the microphone that goes tumbling down and not him.



Related: Europe