Lionel Messi's 10 Biggest Disappointments in Football so Far

Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer in the world and has the FIFA Ballon d'Or in the bag. 

In the last four seasons, Messi has scored 38, 47, 53 and 72 goals—will it be 100 next season? 

People keep saying he has 28 assists this season, yes that is true for incisive passes, but if it's simply the last pass leading to a goal, he has 37, according to Transfermarkt. 

Cristiano Ronaldo has had several notable failures but Messi has also experienced his fair share of low points. 

So here are 10 of Messi's biggest footballing disappointments in chronological order. 

10. June 30, 2006: Being Left on the Bench in the FiFA World Cup Quarter-Finals

José Pekerman probably wakes up in the middle of the night thinking, "Why didn't I play Lionel Messi?"

Of all the people you'd think would throw Messi on, it would have been Pekerman, a manager who had won three FIFA U-20 World Cups. 

Instead he left the prodigiously talented teenager on the bench and subbed on Julio Cruz, who had scored three international goals in the past decade. 

9. August 25, 2006: Losing the UEFA Super Cup Final

Adriano, who later became teammates with Lionel Messi, did an excellent job tracking the Argentine which made the aging David's job less complicated. 

Up until this loss, Messi had won the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, 2006 UEFA Champions League, two La Liga titles and two Supercopa de España. 

8. July 15, 2007: Coming Up Short in the Copa América Final

Robinho scored four more goals than Lionel Messi during the 2007 Copa América tournament. 

In the final, Messi couldn't find a way past Alex and Juan, as Brazil won 3-0 even though they started Doni, Alex, Gilberto, Josué and Mineiro—basically a B side.  

7. March 4, 2008: Another Thigh Injury

Lionel Messi had no control over breaking his foot against Real Zaragoza, which sidelined him for two months and 21 days. 

When he tore his thigh muscle against Celtic, which was his fourth thigh injury, he did have control over his destiny. 

He had been warned by the medical staff that if he played, he would risk re-injuring his thigh again—evidently the Argentine had been playing through the pain barrier. 

Carles Puyol bizarrely launched an attack on the media in the aftermath of Messi's injury:

"

The doctors spoke and said there was a risk of injury and you (the media) put pressure on him to play, saying that he always has to play.

You've got to leave the doctors and physios to do their job because they know more about these things than you do.

Now we're all left to regret the decision. 

"

When Messi left the field with tears streaming down his face, he probably uttered "never again" because that is the last time he has been injured for more than a month. This shows the Argentine has been listening to the medical staff. 

Here's an interesting anecdote about a then-17-year-old Messi: 

"

Barça won, but Messi collided with an opponent, was knocked unconscious and suffered a serious cheekbone fracture. He was taken to hospital immediately.

Eight days later, Barca were to meet their city rivals again in the final of the Copa Catalunya for the Cadete age group. There should have been no chance of Messi making that game, but he begged to play.

Messi was allowed to play on the strict condition that he wore the mask and even then it was a tremendous risk. One more collision and he could suffer far greater damage.

Messi trots over to the bench, claims he can't see properly because the face mask is making him sweat too much and throws it to Garcia and his assistants. All the rules, all the warnings are also tossed aside and, before he can be substituted, Messi has scored. Then he gets another.

"

Pound-for-pound, Messi is one of the toughest players in world football. 

6. April 29, 2008: UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Misery

Six days before in the first leg (which ended 0-0), Cristiano Ronaldo had missed a penalty and was petulantly bickering with Rio Ferdinand. 

Lionel Messi and Barcelona couldn't break down Manchester United in the second leg, especially after Paul Scholes scored a brilliant long-range goal. 

Messi was superb in this game as he dribbled past the United players at will.

It was similar to his recent first leg performance against Chelsea, where his dribbling statistics rose but his goal column was still empty. 

5. June 12- July 3, 2010: Underwhelming FIFA World Cup Campaign

Vincent Enyeama's epic performance against Lionel Messi foreshadowed the Argentine's mediocre displays throughout the tournament. 

He was superman when playing for Barcelona but a mere mortal for Argentina. 

In the 4-0 loss to Germany, Messi kept running into the brick-wall partnership of Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker. 

4. April 20, 2011: Struggled Against Anti-Football in Copa Del Rey Final

Pepe, Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso just smothered Lionel Messi and perhaps for the first time in recent memory, the Argentine wilted under the pressure. 

I don't understand why Pepe doesn't play in midfield more because he is really good at chasing players and kicking them. 

3. July 1-16, 2011: Failed to Score in the Copa América

For the second major international tournament running, Lionel Messi again failed to score. 

He provided some beautiful passes but where was the goal machine from Barcelona? 

2. April 21, 2012: Lionel Messi Did Not Produce with La Liga Title on the Line

Almost a year to the day that Lionel Messi struggled in the Copa del Rey final, the Argentine was mediocre against Real Madrid with the La Liga Title on the line.  

Mind you, the bright lights were too much for Cristian Tello, who was out of his depth. 

With the exception of an incisive pass to Xavi, Messi couldn't break through Real Madrid defence. 

1. April 24, 2012: Chelsea Is Lionel Messi's Kryptonite

I've always believed that Lionel Messi's kryptonite was Pepe in midfield. 

Evidently it's Chelsea because Messi has failed to score against the Blues in eight games. 

With the exception of parking the bus and some extreme luck, Chelsea hasn't incorporated any special tactics to stop the Argentine. 

Earlier in the season, Messi had his 95th minute penalty saved by Javi Varas, which cost Barcelona three points. 

This time, Messi's penalty miss cost Barça a place in the UEFA Champions League final. 

Please read why Messi was better than Ronaldo this season.