The Argentine gave his side hope by scoring before halftime but was stifled over two games by Athletic Bilbao as the Catalans' sextuple dream went up in smoke, writes Ben Hayward.
The miracle never materialized. Barcelona came flying out of the blocks against Athletic Bilbao on Monday night at Camp Nou, but it was too little, too late from the Blaugrana. They were well beaten over two legs, and not even Lionel Messi could save them this time.
Messi lit up the final of the Copa del Rey in May with one of his greatest goals as he ran from the right flank, beat three men, cut inside past another and netted with a sublime finish inside the near post.