The Argentine attacker has never received a standing ovation at the Santiago Bernabeu and is only grudgingly admired by fans of Los Blancos
It was an iconic celebration. Lionel Messi had just decided a Clasico clash with a superb goal deep into added time, his 500th senior strike for Barcelona, and held his shirt aloft in front of the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Most of them were furious, but Barcelona's fans loved it. For them, it was confirmation of what they have long known — that Messi is there (and theirs) when it matters most. But Madrid have found themselves on the receiving end of his genius far more often than they would have wanted.