2013 Barcelona Home – Lionel Messi #10 Small

The 2012/13 season marked another dominant domestic campaign for FC Barcelona, who captured the La Liga title in spectacular fashion under coach Tito Vilanova. It was a season of both triumph and adversity — defined by incredible consistency on the pitch and the emotional challenges of their manager’s battle with illness.

• La Liga:

  • Champions, finishing 1st with 100 points, equaling Real Madrid’s record from the previous year.

  • Scored 115 goals and conceded 40, showing attacking brilliance from start to finish.

  • Clinched the title with four matches to spare.

• Copa del Rey:

  • Reached the semifinals, losing to Real Madrid (4–2 on aggregate).

• UEFA Champions League:

  • Advanced to the semifinals, where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich (7–0 on aggregate).

  • Despite the heavy loss, the club had impressive wins earlier in the tournament, including the famous 4–0 comeback against AC Milan at the Camp Nou — one of Messi’s finest European nights.

• Spanish Super Cup:

  • Winners, defeating Real Madrid on away goals (4–4 aggregate).

• Key Storyline:

  • Tito Vilanova’s tactical continuity kept Barça’s identity intact after Guardiola’s departure.

  • The team played breathtaking football early in the season, setting a record with 18 wins and 1 draw in their first 19 league games.

  • It was also the season that Lionel Messi achieved statistical immortality, setting a record that may never be broken.

• Kit:
  The 2012/13 Barcelona home jersey, by Nike, introduced a modern gradient design, transitioning from deep red in the center to navy blue on the sides. Featuring the Qatar Foundation sponsor, it was sleek, minimal, and became iconic for being the shirt worn during Messi’s record-breaking 91-goal calendar year.

2. Player’s Impact – Lionel Messi (2012/13)

Lionel Messi delivered one of the most extraordinary individual seasons in football history, rewriting record books with his consistency, efficiency, and creativity.

• Appearances: 50 in all competitions.

• Statistics: 60 goals and 16 assists.

  • La Liga: 46 goals in 32 matches — the second-highest in league history.

  • Champions League: 8 goals.

  • Copa del Rey: 4 goals.

• Key Moments:

  • Scored in 21 consecutive La Liga matches, a record unmatched to this day.

  • Netted twice in the 4–0 comeback win vs. AC Milan to overturn a first-leg deficit.

  • Scored all four goals in a 4–1 win over Osasuna.

  • Consistently carried Barcelona’s attack through injury struggles late in the season.

• Role: Played as a false nine, combining deep playmaking with lethal finishing. His link-up play with Iniesta, Xavi, and Alba defined the fluid positional system Tito Vilanova carried forward.

• Legacy:

  • Messi’s 2012/13 campaign remains statistically one of the greatest ever — a masterpiece of precision and dominance.

  • He won his fourth consecutive Ballon d’Or (2012) for his unprecedented 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year.

  • Even amid team fatigue and managerial uncertainty, Messi’s brilliance kept Barcelona at the top.

3. Full Squad List – FC Barcelona 2012/13

Manager: Tito Vilanova

Goalkeepers:

• Víctor Valdés

• José Manuel Pinto

Defenders:

• Dani Alves

• Gerard Piqué

• Carles Puyol (Captain)

• Jordi Alba

• Adriano

• Javier Mascherano

• Marc Bartra

• Martín Montoya

Midfielders:

• Xavi Hernández

• Andrés Iniesta

• Sergio Busquets

• Cesc Fàbregas

• Thiago Alcântara

• Alex Song

• Jonathan dos Santos

Forwards:

• Lionel Messi

• David Villa

• Pedro Rodríguez

• Alexis Sánchez

• Cristian Tello