FC Barcelona: 15 Most Memorable Moments of 2011

FC Barcelona had one of the most memorable years in their prestigious history in 2011. Five titles, including their third consecutive Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup championships and their fourth UEFA Champions League title have made 2011 one of the most historic years in the Blaugrana’s storied history.

There have been many memorable moments for Barcelona in this year. A few bad ones, but mostly good. That being said, here are the 15 most memorable moments of 2011.

The Golden Three: Messi, Xavi and Iniesta Are Ballon D’Or Finalists

In January of this year, Lionel Messi won his second straight FIFA Ballon d’Or. What made it a memorable moment for Barcelona is it was the first time in the club’s history that all three finalists of the yearly award came from the Blaugrana. The award ceremony was essentially a tribute to Barcelona, as Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta were the finalists and deserved the honor. But there was no doubt the golden football was going to go to Messi.

Several other Barça players attended the ceremony, including Gerard Pique, David Villa and Carles Puyol. Barça President Sandro Rosell was in attendance, and Pep Guardiola was also in attendance, as he was a finalist for FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year Award.

Looks like Messi will soon make it three years in a row as Ballon d’Or winner.   

Barcelona Breaks Record for Most Consecutive Wins in a Liga Season (16)

Alfredo Di Estefano and his Real Madrid team of 1960-61 won 15 straight games. The Madrid team of that era won numerous titles and was considered the greatest team in Liga history.

That was, until this Barcelona team came along.

On February 5 of this year, Barcelona broke the record for the most consecutive wins in a single Liga season with a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi got a hat trick as he led his team to their 16th straight victory, which is the number that it stayed at.

Pep Guardiola’s squad has been shattering records and setting their place at the top of peoples list of the greatest teams of all time.

Copa Del Rey Loss

A memorable moment doesn't have to be a positive moment. Barcelona’s Copa Del Rey loss to arch rival Real Madrid was a reminder that this team is not unbeatable and it has its faults. The game ended Pep Guardiola’s winning ways versus Real and was the first time in long time that Leo Messi and the rest of the team disappointed Culés with their play, or lack thereof. Real Madrid was the better team that night and deserved the Copa.

Some fans say it was a good thing that they lost because it helped motivate Barça versus Madrid in the Champions League semifinals a few days later. I don’t know about that, but it was definitely a humbling moment for the squad.

Messi’s Golazo vs. Real Madrid in the UCL Semifinal 1st leg

The most memorable goal in the four Clásicos of the spring came from the feel of Lionel Messi. Up one to nothing in the final minutes of the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, Messi took the ball and stormed past the entire Madrid defense and scored the goal that essentially eliminated Real Madrid.

The win helped Barça erase the memory of the Copa Del Rey loss a few days before. Barcelona would go on and win the Champions League title over Manchester United.

The goal was without question one of the best goals in football in 2011.  

Liga Champions and Jose Manuel Pinto Mocks Jose Mourinho

Barcelona won its third straight Liga title. One of the most memorable moments in Barça’s year was at the team’s championship celebration at the Camp Nou when Barça’s backup keeper Jose Manuel Pinto mocked Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho and his memorable “¿Por que?” rant after Madrid’s 0-2 loss to Barcelona in the UCL semifinals.

Holding his little girl in his arms, Pinto told the Culés “If anyone (i.e. Mourinho) asks ‘Why?’ Why are we here (celebrating)…kids tell them, BECAUSE WE ARE THE BEST!

The video is in Spanish.

Messi’s Goal vs. Manchester United in CL Final

After 45 minutes of time, the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final was tied at one. It was time for someone to step up and win it for their team.

That person that stepped up was once again Lionel Messi.

In the 54th minute, Messi sent a curving shot for outside the box passed Edwin van der Sar and into the back of the net. Messi’s passionate reaction said it all.

David Villa would add another goal a few minutes later to seal the victory as Barcelona won their fourth European title.

The moment was there for the taking, and once again, Leo took the moment and made it his. The goal adds to his legacy of clutch play. He is truly one of the greatest of all time.

Abidal Lifts the Trophy in London

Eric Abidal lifting up the UEFA Champions League trophy is not only one of the most memorable moments is FC Barcelona’s year; it’s one of the most memorable moments in sports of all year.

On March 15, Eric was diagnosed with a tumor in his liver. He had surgery a few days later. The following game against Getafe, Barcelona players came on to the pitch wearing “Anims Abidal” shirts. The players dedicated the rest of the campaign to Eric. Fans also got into the well wishes. In the 22nd minute, Culés clapped for an entire minute in tribute to the No. 22.

To everyone’s pleasant surprise, Eric recovered sooner than expected and was included in the roster for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal vs. Real Madrid. It was an emotional moment for all football fans when they saw Abidal come in for Carles Puyol in stoppage time of the 1-1 game.

Abidal was in the starting lineup for the final against Manchester United. Eric played the entire game that saw Barcelona win its fourth European championship. The most symbolic moment that symbolized Barcelona’s triumph in 2011, but more importantly symbolizes Eric Abidal’s triumph over cancer, was him wearing the captain’s armband and raising the trophy to the heavens.

In my opinion, Abidal raising the trophy is the most memorable moment in football for 2011.

End of an Era: Qatar Foundation on the Front of the Jersey

A memorable moment in football doesn’t always have to be on the pitch. For the first time in their history, FC Barcelona had a paid sponsor on the front of their historic jersey.

For many years, Barcelona went without a business/corporate advertising on their jerseys. It was one of the things that made their Blaugrana kits so recognizable.

In 2006, they announced a five-year deal with UNICEF to place their logo on the front of their jerseys at no cost to UNICEF. The club agreed to donate €1.5 million per year to UNICEF via the club’s foundation.

But the world of sports is also a world of business, and the club’s executives decided that money was being lost by not having a corporate sponsor bring in funds. In December of last year, Barcelona announced a five-year, €170 million deal with the non-profit organization Qatar Foundation. Club president Sandro Rosell said it was a business move to help keep FCB compete against other corporate-sponsored clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United as well as to stay competitive in the player market.

In May of this year, the club unveiled their new kit with Qatar Foundation in the front of the jersey. The UNICEF logo was placed on the back of the jersey.

It was the end of an era. But that’s the business of football.

The Signing of Alexis Sánchez

2011 saw Barcelona sign two major signs in the offseason. One of the signings was Alexis Sánchez from Italian club Udinese for an estimated €26 million plus €11 in variables. Alexis may not have had the fanfare that Barcelona’s other signing Cesc Fàbregas had, but El Niño Maravilla has been very effective for the team. Alexis has brought a dynamic flare that many have compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Alexis signing with Barcelona may not be seen as a memorable moment, but the signing was memorable for all Chileans, as Sánchez became the first player born in Chile to wear the blaugrana jersey.

Sánchez got off to a tough start this season, as he missed two months after he tore a hamstring versus Real Sociedad on September 10. He returned to action on November 1 in a Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen. Alexis has scored five goals in eight appearances.

But Alexis’ most important game was the Clásico against Real Madrid, where he scored the equalizer and had his best game in a Barcelona kit. It is now becoming clear that Sánchez is only beginning to heat up and play like the Serie A player of the year that he was last season.

With Ibrahim Afellay and now David Villa’s season-ending injuries, it is now more evident than ever that Sánchez’s sign was incredibly important for Barcelona.

Cesc Fàbregas Finally Comes Home

One of the biggest transfer sagas of all time came to an end in 2011 when Arsenal captain Cesc Fàbregas came back home. After two years of rumors, rejected offers and speculation of Cesc’s commitment to Arsenal, the Masia alum was sent back to his boyhood team for an estimated £35 million.

There were many that criticized Pep Guardoila for being so adamant on signing Cesc. Many were wondering why the team would spend so much money on a player that they may not even need, especially after spending quite a bit of cash on Alexis Sánchez. Others were saying why spend on Fàbregas when Barça already has the two best midfielders in the world, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Those people that questioned the signing were quickly shunned. Cesc made his debut against Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa. He scored his first goal in a Blaugrana kit when he scored late in the UEFA Super Cup victory against FC Porto.

His great play continued in La Liga, as he scored five goals in his first four games. Cesc’s immediate on-the-field chemistry with Leo Messi surprised most observers as well.

Overall, Fàbregas has scored eight goals in 12 games and has won three titles: Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Money well spent.

Winning the UEFA Super Cup

It may not be as big as the Champions League title, but winning the UEFA Super Cup is still a title. The game’s first goal came from Leo Messi off an error from Porto defense. Cesc Fàbregas scored his first goal in a Blaugrana shirt late in the game to clinch the cup. It was their second Super Cup in three years and fourth overall in the club’s history.

Barcelona’s dominance of Europe continues.

Messi’s Spanish Cup Winning Goal vs. Real Madrid.

It’s that man again: Leo Messi.

The Spanish Super Cup is usually a title that most are not interested in. That was not the case this year, as Real Madrid and Barcelona clashed for the title. After a 1-1 tie in the first leg at the Bernabéu, it was on the Camp Nou to decide it all.

It was a tense game, as both teams were looking to get their seasons off with a title. Karim Benzema tied the game in the 83rd minute, and it seemed the game would head to extra time.

But Barcelona ended Real’s hopes only five minutes later, as Cesc Fàbregas passed it to Messi, who gave it to Adriano inside the box. Adriano, who made a bad corner kick clearance which led to Benzema’s goal, redeemed himself as he sent in a short cross which met the foot of a flying Messi, putting the ball past Iker Casillas and giving Barcelona the Supercopa.

It was Barcelona’s first title of the 2011-12 season as well as a message sent to Madrid to remind Los Blancos who is still the kings of Spanish football.    

Comeback Victory at the Bernabéu

Real Madrid got off to a great start this season in La Liga. With a six-point lead in the league, Real was looking to put the dagger in Barcelona’s title  hopes in El Clásico. On December 10th, Barça came into the Santiago Bernabéu needing a win against Mourinho’s team; no questions asked.

The game got off to a horrible start, as Victor Valdes gave the ball away, and within 30 seconds, Real Madrid had a 1-0 lead. Madrid was charging furiously, and Cristiano Ronlado almost made it 2-0 in just under 30 minutes.

It was a crossroads moment for Barcelona in the game and in the season.

But Barcelona showed why they are the best in the world as they took control of the midfield and began to open up their play. In the 30th minute, Messi passed it to Alexis Sánchez, who put passed Iker Casillas for the equalizer.

Barcelona took control of the game in the second half as they controlled ball possession and the defense, especially Carles Puyol, was able to stop the Madrid threats.

A Xavi deflected shot in the 53rd minute made it 2-1, and a Cesc Fàbregas header in the 66th minute sealed the victory for the Blaugrana.

It is the most important victory of the 2011-12 season so far.

David Villa’s Injury

Another memorable (but not for a good reason) moment of Barcelona’s year was this past week, when David Villa suffered a season ending injury against Al Sadd in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal. The injury occurred in the first half of the game when Villa chased an Andres Iniesta pass that sailed over Villa and two defenders. Villa landed awkwardly and broke his shinbone.

The image of the break is just plain nasty.

We don’t know how bad El Guaje’s injury will affect Barcelona for their remaining Liga, Copa and Champions League runs, but one thing is for sure, it will certainly be significant.

Barça is without question one of the deepest teams in world football, but no one can truly replace David Villa.

World Champions: Winning the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup

After beating Real Madrid in El Clásico, Barcelona got a plane and headed to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup.

No jet lag here.

Barcelona cruised past Asia champions Al Sadd 0-4. The win came with a price as David Villa’s injury overshadowed the game. Barcelona marched on to the final against the Copa Libertadores champions Santos and superstar Neymar.

It looked like only one team showed up to play that night.

Leo Messi led the charge, as Barcelona made it look too easy and dominated Santos to win their second FIFA Club World Cup title, becoming the first team to win the tournament twice.

The victory gave Barcelona its fifth title of the calendar year and gave the title “World Champions” officially to the club.

Historic Barça indeed. We are watching one of the greatest teams in sports history play. The scary part for other teams: Barcelona’s reign does not seem to be ending anytime soon.

What a great way to end a great year! Visca el Barça!

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to check out my "12 Days of Barça" as well.