Angry Lionel Messi Shows He's Fired Up for Barcelona Sextuple Challenge

CAMP NOU, BARCELONA — Lionel Messi did something he hasn't done before on Wednesday night against Roma. Not his well-taken goal, drilled home from the edge of the box after some fine interplay between Luis Suarez, Neymar and Dani Alves. We've seen that already, countless times.

No, rewind back from the 40th minute in which Messi put Barcelona 2-0 up, to the 33rd. After a move broke down because of an offside, Messi turned to run back out of the box and was confronted by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Roma's defender stuck his head in Messi's face, provocation the Argentine has endured before on many occasions. But this time, he reacted. Messi thrust his head towards Mapou, full of aggression and adrenaline. He then grabbed his opponent by the throat.

Somehow he was only booked rather than sent off, no doubt helped by the defender's decision not to collapse to the floor after Messi's headbutt.

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It was a shocking moment. Not because it was unprecedented on a football field—this and much worse have happened before—but because it was Messi who did it.

Cristiano Ronaldo has lost his temper on the pitch on numerous occasions, and it’s no surprise when the Portuguese gets frustrated and combusts. But his eternal rival has always acted differently. Messi has consistently been ice-cold when those around him lose their heads.

In high-pressure Champions League clashes and fiery Clasicos, Messi has been kicked, hacked, barged, insulted and more, but he blocks it out and gets on with the game.

So to see him suddenly lurch forward and try to attack Mapou was extremely strange, particularly when you note the nature of the game—a preseason friendly of little significance.

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Assuming this violence was an isolated incident, seeing Messi so passionate can only be a good thing for Barcelona. The Argentine returned from the World Cup last summer determined to get back to his best level, and duly did so.

The criticism he received from his own country’s media following Argentina’s Copa America final defeat to Chile will have stung, and it seems Messi is still playing like his life depended on it, as if the cheers from every goal drown out the other noise.

When Javier Mascherano was asked in the mixed zone about Messi being enchufado—plugged in—during the 3-0 victory over the Italian team, he laughed and replied “like always.”

It’s not exactly a desire to prove himself—no unbiased person can doubt Messi is the world’s best player and has been at least for the entirety of 2015—but more a way of expressing his feelings on the football pitch.

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And like last summer, Neymar and Luis Suarez too, will come back strongly. The Brazilian because he endured further disappointment, being sent off and seeing his country eliminated from the Copa America. And the Uruguayan as he was still banned from his World Cup dismissal and missed the South American championship in its entirety.

Suarez has looked sharp in preseason, bagging three goals, while Messi and Neymar’s first game back after international duty was the Roma match.

The three players worked together beautifully, with time only strengthening their bond on the pitch. With supporting players like Ivan Rakitic also looking like he can step up a gear, you fear for Barcelona’s opponents this season.

There were several moments of beautiful interplay between the three forwards, Rakitic and Dani Alves. One of these moments would be the most memorable part of another match; here there are so many it’s difficult to recount them all.

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One move in the first half saw an exquisite Neymar back-heel find Messi, whose shot was saved brilliantly by Wojciech Szczesny. The ball broke free and Rafinha followed it up, but his effort from close range was somehow blocked and the danger cleared.

Roma’s defence breathed again and looked at each other. It had been a lucky escape after they were torn to shreds. And this was by two players who were playing their first game after their summer break. When they really find their fitness, we could be in for some terrifying scenes at the Camp Nou—this time for all the right reasons.

Messi is firm favourite to win the Ballon d’Or in January, and he will be going all out to try and win the sextuple again.

This performance will have left European and Spanish Super Cup opponents Sevilla and Athletic Club quaking in their boots, and not because they’re more worried about Messi’s head than his feet.

Mixed zone quote obtained firsthand.