After two failed periods,
Spain's capital were in need of a change, major to the dismissals of Rijkaard and Ronaldinho. Upon the latter's leaving, Messi was given the number 10 clothing.[44] He finalized a new agreement in This summer 2008 on a yearly wage of €7.8 thousand, becoming the golf club's highest-paid gamer.[68][69] Forward of 2012, a major issue stayed his regular muscle accidents, which had left him side-lined for a maximum of eight months between 2006 and 2008. To fight the problem, the group applied new training, nourishment, and way of life routines, and allocated him a personal physio therapist, who would travel with him during call-ups for the Argentina nationwide group. As a result, Messi stayed almost injury-free during the next four decades, enabling him to accomplish his full potential.[51][70] In his first continuous strategy, the 2008–09 season, he obtained 38 objectives in 51 activities, adding together with Eto'o and winger Thierry Gretchen to a maximum of 100 objectives in all contests, a list at plenty of here we are at the group.[71][72] Despite his accidents during, his activities in 2008 saw him again elected runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Globe Player of the Year prize, both periods behind Cristiano Ronaldo.[62][73]
Messi launches close by Birmingham United's charge area during the Winners Group last in May 2009.
During his 1st season under Barcelona's new administrator, former leader Pep Guardiola, Messi performed mainly on the right part, like he had under Rijkaard, though now as a incorrect winger with the opportunity to cut inside and wander the center. During a clásico on 2 May 2009, however, he performed the very new as a incorrect nine, placed as a centre-forward but losing strong into midfield to link up with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. He helped with a processor his side's first objective and obtained twice to end the coordinate in an emphatic 6–2 success, their greatest-ever ranking at Real Madrid's Bernabéu ground.[74][75] Coming back to one part, he performed his first last since entering the first group on 13 May, reviewing once and supporting a second objective as they beaten Fitness Bilbao 4–1 to win the Copa del Rey.[76] With 23 league objectives from Messi that season, they were crowned La Liga champions three days later to win their fifth dual.[71][77]
As the periods Winners Group top scorer with nine objectives, the newest in the tournament's history,[78] Messi obtained two objectives and helped two more to make sure a 4–0 quarter-final success over Bayern Munich.[74] He came back as a incorrect nine during the last on 27 May in The capital, where they experienced Birmingham U. s.. When he advancing the football over goalie Edwin van der Sar to make the end ranking 2–0, Spain's capital were champions of European countries, accomplishing the first highs in historical past of Language soccer.[79][80] Their success was shown in a new agreement, finalized on 18 Sept, which dedicated Messi to the group through 2016 with a new acquistion stipulation of €250 thousand, while his wage improved to €12 thousand.[68] Barça's success ongoing into the second half of 2009, as they became the first group to obtain the sextuple, successful six top-tier awards in a single season.[81] After wins in the Supercopa de España and UEFA Extremely Cup in Aug, they won the FIFA Club Globe Cup against Estudiantes on 19 Dec, with Messi reviewing the successful 2–1 objective with his chest area.[82] At 22 decades old, Messi won the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Globe Player of the Year prize, both periods by the very best voting edge in each trophy's history.[62]