Shirt stories: 45 Minutes of Messi

The GOAT in his prime

You could ask: “What can a 45-minute appearance in a friendly possibly tell you about the career of Lionel Messi?”

And then you watch it. A half of captivating playmaking against Manchester United that, on another day, sees him go in at half-time with two goals and two assists.

At this stage in his career, Barcelona’s #10 was unplayable even in pre-season mode. And this Lionel Messi match-worn shirt from the Rod Thornley Collection comes from the heart of a year in which he wrote football history...

Sir Alex Ferguson watches on as Messi stands over a free-kick

One Year To Rule Them All

Barça and United were no strangers.

This 2012 friendly was a re-run of the Champions League finals of 2009 and 2011, with the Catalans coming out on top in both, Messi scoring the decisive goals.

So when the match in Gothenburg kicked off, United knew exactly what to expect – and defended against the Blaugrana’s talisman accordingly.

Nemanja Vidić with his hands full in Gothenburg

Despite often having to navigate four United defenders at once – kicking, pulling, grabbing at his every move – Messi, for the most part, had no problems evading them, finding pockets of space to turn and torment the Red Devils’ defence.

This was just the Lionel Messi experience during that era. He was at his pomp, in the middle of what would go down as the greatest calendar year ever played.

He would end 2012 with 91 goals and nine hat-tricks – that's without mentioning the 22 assists he bagged that year.

Messi, unsurprisingly, would earn another Ballon d’Or a few months after the game in Sweden, his fourth in succession.

This fourth win was unprecedented – Messi moved clear of Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten who had all won the award three times.

The spectacle against United – a 0-0 draw decided by penalties – effectively ended when Messi left the pitch. 

Every touch a bit less special, every attack a bit more forced. The 47,000 in Ullevi Stadium had got what they’d come for, and Rod Thornley was next in line.

The Exchange

From training ground lifeguard to trusted masseur for Manchester United’s biggest names, Thornley spent the best part of two decades inside the Old Trafford dressing room.

And when it came to collecting shirts, Thornley wasn’t one to beg – but sometimes the occasion called for putting pride to the side. 

“I text Gerard Pique about two, three days before, I said: ‘Mate, I never ever ask for anything but I need Messi's shirt from this game. I just want it, I've never had his shirt.’

“So at the end of the game, Pique came to our changing room, grabbed me. We walked into their changing room. He's still got it on his back. 

“He takes it off, and he signs it to me while I'm sat with him. I shake his hand, say thank you, and he says no problem. And then I walked out. Incredible.”

The shirt is the first Messi shirt ever auctioned through MWS from this era – a rare piece of Messi and Barça memorabilia from one of the greatest to ever play the game.

The Legend Collection offers you rare opportunities to acquire worn and signed shirts from football icons. Follow to be the first to know when new auctions go live.