% of the 2012–13 strategy, simultaneously with Vilanova's lack due to ill health.[133][134] After dropping subsequent clásicos, such as the Copa del Rey semi-finals, they were nearly removed in the first ko circular of the Winners Group by A.C. Milan, but a resurgence of type in the second leg led to a 4–0 return, with two objectives and an assist from Messi.[135] Now in his 9th mature season with Spain's capital, Messi finalized a new agreement on 7 Feb, choosing himself to the group through 2018, while his set wage improved to €13 thousand.[136][137] He used the captain's armband for the new a month later, on 17 Goal, in a league coordinate against Rayo Vallecano; by then, he had become the crew's strategic centerpiece to a level that was probably rivalled only by former Spain's capital stars Josep Samitier, László Kubala, and Johan Cruyff.[138] Since his improvement into a incorrect nine several decades formerly, his feedback into the crew's strike had improved exponentially; from 24 % in their treble-winning strategy, his objective participation improved to more than 40 % that season.[139]
"In Leo we are discussing about the best gamer on the globe and when things are not going well you have to use him. Even if he is 50 % boring, his existence on the message is enough to raise us and our perform in common."
—Defender Gerard Piqué describes Barcelona's dependence on an unsuitable Messi against London Saint-Germain in Apr 2013.[140]
After four mostly injury-free periods, the muscle accidents that had formerly affected Messi reoccurred. After he a break down hamstring muscle stress on 2 Apr, during the first quarter-final against London Saint-Germain, his performances became infrequent. In the second leg against PSG, with an underperforming Spain's capital down a objective, Messi came off the regular in the better 50 % and within nine minutes assisted create their game-tying objective, which permitted them to advance to the semi-finals. Still unsuitable, he shown worthless during the first leg against Bayern Munich and was not able to perform at all during the second, as Spain's capital were beaten 7–0 on total by the ultimate champions.[141][142] These suits provided support to the idea of Messidependencia, Barcelona's recognized strategic and emotional requirement of their celebrity gamer.[142]
Messi ongoing to have trouble with damage throughout 2013, gradually separating ways with his long-time personal physio therapist.[143] Further damage to his hamstring muscle continual on 12 May completed his goalscoring ability of 21 subsequent league games, a globally record; he had netted 33 objectives during his run, along with a four-goal show against Osasuna, while becoming the first gamer gain repeatedly against all 19 resistance groups in La Liga.[138][144][145][146] With 60 objectives in all contests, such as 46 objectives in La Liga, he completed the strategy as league top scorer in Italy and Western countries for the second subsequent season, becoming the first gamer in the past to win the Western Fantastic Shoes three times.[147][148] Following an infrequent begin to the season under administrator Tata Martino, formerly of his childhood group Newell's Old Guys, Messi knowledgeable his fifth damage that season when he ripped his hamstring muscle on 10 Nov, making him side-lined for two months.[149][150] Despite his accidents, he was elected runner-up for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, relinquishing the prize after a four-year monopoly to Cristiano Ronaldo.[151]
Messi enjoys his second objective against Granada in Sept 2014.
During the second 50 % of the 2013–14 season, questions ongoing over Messi's type, resulting in a understanding among the culés that he was arranging himself for the 2014 FIFA Globe Cup. Mathematically, his participation of objectives, photos, and goes had decreased considerably in comparison to past periods.[152][153][154] He still created excellent minutes, as he did when he split two historical information in seven days: a hat-trick on 16 Goal against Osasuna saw him exceed Paulino Alcántara's 369 objectives to become Barcelona's top goalscorer in all contests such as friendlies, while another hat-trick against Actual The town on 23 Goal created him the all-time top scorer in El Clásico, before the 18 objectives obtained by Actual The town tale Alfredo Di Stéfano.[152][155] Messi completed the strategy with his most severe outcome in five periods, though he still handled gain 41 objectives in all contests.[153][156] For the new in 5 decades, Spain's capital completed 12 months without a major trophy; they were beaten in the Copa del Rey last by Actual The town and missing the league in the last activity to Atlético The town, resulting in Messi to be booed by parts of lovers at the Camping Nou.[157][158]
After extended rumours over his future with the group, Messi finalized a new agreement on 19 May 2014, only annually after his last contract update; his wage improved to €20 thousand, or €36 thousand before taxation, the biggest wage ever in the game.[159][160] Under their new administrator, former leader Luis Enrique, Messi knowledgeable a mostly injury-free begin to the 2014–15 season, enabling him to break three more historical information towards the end of the season.[161] A hat-trick obtained against Sevilla on 22 Nov created him the all-time top scorer in La Liga, as he exceeded the 59-year record of 251 league objectives organised by Telmo Zarra.[162] 3 times later, he obtained another hat-trick against APOEL, ruling Raúl's 71 objectives to become top scorer in historical past of the Winners Group.[163] A third hat-trick, obtained against city competitors Espanyol on 7 Dec, permitted him to exceed César Rodríguez as the all-time top scorer in the Derbi barceloní with 12 goal