2011 Barcelona Home – Lionel Messi #10 Small

The 2010/11 season was one of the greatest in FC Barcelona’s modern history, widely regarded as the peak of Pep Guardiola’s era and Lionel Messi’s dominance. It was a season defined by beautiful football, tactical perfection, and silverware at both domestic and international levels.

• La Liga:

  • Barcelona were Champions, finishing 1st with 96 points, ahead of Real Madrid.

  • Scored 95 goals and conceded only 21 — a display of control, fluidity, and defensive discipline.

• UEFA Champions League:

  • Champions, defeating Manchester United 3–1 in the final at Wembley.

  • Messi scored a brilliant goal in the final — a low-driven strike past Edwin van der Sar — and was named Man of the Match.

  • Along the way, Barça eliminated Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Real Madrid in the semifinals.

• Copa del Rey:

  • Runners-up, losing 1–0 to Real Madrid after Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time header in the final.

• Spanish Super Cup:

  • Winners, defeating Real Madrid 5–4 on aggregate, with Messi scoring a hat-trick over the two legs.

• Key Storyline:

  • This was the season where Guardiola’s tactical philosophy reached perfection — possession, pressing, and positional play at their highest level.

  • The famous front trio of Messi, Villa, and Pedro, supported by Xavi and Iniesta, mesmerized Europe with one-touch football and relentless movement.

• Kit:
  The 2010/11 Barcelona home jersey, by Nike, featured the traditional blue and red stripes with a thinner yellow collar and sleeve trim, and the UNICEF logo on the chest. It is remembered as one of the most elegant and historically significant kits of the Messi–Guardiola era.

2. Player’s Impact – Lionel Messi (2010/11)

Lionel Messi was at the absolute height of his powers, producing one of the most complete and dominant individual seasons in football history.

• Appearances: 55 in all competitions.

• Statistics: 53 goals and 24 assists.

  • La Liga: 31 goals, 18 assists.

  • Champions League: 12 goals (Top Scorer).

  • Copa del Rey: 7 goals.

• Key Moments:

  • Scored two goals against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal, including the legendary solo run at the Bernabéu.

  • Netted in the Champions League Final vs. Manchester United — a defining moment of his career.

  • Recorded 10 braces and 4 hat-tricks across all competitions.

• Role: Played as a false nine, dropping deep to link play and creating overloads in midfield while maintaining lethal finishing ability.

• Legacy:

  • The 2010/11 season is often cited as the most tactically perfect version of Messi — equally creative and clinical.

  • He won the FIFA Ballon d’Or (2011) for his unmatched performances, confirming his status as the best player in the world.

3. Full Squad List – FC Barcelona 2010/11

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Goalkeepers:

• Víctor Valdés

• José Manuel Pinto

Defenders:

• Dani Alves

• Gerard Piqué

• Carles Puyol (Captain)

• Eric Abidal

• Adriano

• Maxwell

• Gabriel Milito

Midfielders:

• Xavi Hernández

• Andrés Iniesta

• Sergio Busquets

• Seydou Keita

• Javier Mascherano

• Thiago Alcântara

Forwards:

• Lionel Messi

• David Villa

• Pedro Rodríguez

• Bojan Krkić

• Ibrahim Afellay

• Jeffrén Suárez