Shirt stories: 45 Minutes of Lionel 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 halftime with two goals and two assists.

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

Sir Alex Ferguson watches as Messi stands over a free kick

One Year to Rule Them All

Barça and United were no strangers.

This 2012 friendly was a rematch 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’ defense.

This was just the Lionel Messi experience during that era. He was at his peak, 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 a row.

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 field. 

Every touch a bit less special, every attack a bit more forced. The 47,000 in Ullevi Stadium had gotten 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 locker room.

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

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

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

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

The jersey is the first Messi jersey 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 jerseys from soccer icons. Follow to be the first to know when new auctions go live.