Argentine superstar Lionel Messi produced a stunning piece of play as Barcelona thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to clinch the Copa del Rey title on Saturday.
Messi, 33, scored twice in what remains to be seen if his seventh Copa del Rey triumph is the last trophy the Argentine lifts in Barcelona colours.
If that should be the case, then we are save to say that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner has just crafted a fitting farewell following the uncertainty that has surrounded his Barcelona future in the last couple of months.
Messi’s first goal, and Barca’s third, started with the Argentinian in his own half before a charging run down the right and a surge forward into the penalty area gave him the chance for a simple finish.
With the club’s president Joan Laporta still in the chase to extend Messi’s contract which is expected to expire this summer, Ronald Koeman on the other has boosted his chances to remain with the Catalan giants for another season.
The Dutch-man had already knew the task before him when he took over a team at rock bottom, humiliated by an historic loss to Bayern Munich and being thrown off balance by Mess’s request leave.
However, it is left to see if this 31st Copa del Rey success would help convince Messi to stay.
Athletic Bilbao had been condemned to a second-half defeats as goals which did the damage were scored in the 60th, 63rd, 68th and 72nd minutes to shatter the hopes of Marcelino’s men.
First, Messi slipped in Dest down the right and his cross was diverted in by Griezmann before the second came from the opposite flank, Jordi Alba curled in a cross for De Jong to nod in.
The third was a spectacular from Messi, who started the move in his own half, leaping over one challenge and dodging another.
He took the ball back from Dest and drove down the right wing, away from three opponents and inside.
