Barcelona Made Me What I Am - Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi believes that he embodies the values instilled in him ever since he joined La Masia. "What I learnt at Barcelona made me what I am", the forward is quoted as saying in an interview on the club's website in which he looks back on his time at the club so far.

His development: "I arrived as a kid and grew up here. The values of La Masia shaped me as a person. What I learnt at the club made me what I am".

His long wait to make his debut: "I was unable to play for six months because of paperwork issues and then I got injured right before my first match. It was a tough time".

End Of An Era Of A Catalan Team That Once Shacked The World

The spectacular side that gave Barcelona so much success is now living out their worst moment. The Catalan giants run a very real risk of finishing the season empty-handed. Even if they manage to win the league, it is clear that they have to face up to the facts that things can't go on the same.

From all to nothing in just one week and three games. Crashing out of the Champions League was followed by a league defeat against Granada that saw them drop from the top spot down to third place.

To top it all, Real Madrid have just slammed the door on their best chance of lifting some silverware. Barça haven't finished a year with nothing to show for it since 2008, when Rijkaard was shown the door.