Barça, facing its first major final without Lionel Messi in the Copa del Rey

Published:3/04/2025 - 05:56h

Updated:3/04/2025 - 06:08h

After nearly three decades, Barcelona will once again compete in a Copa del Rey final without Messi in their ranks. With the Argentine, they won 7 cup trophies.

The Clásico on April 26 between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the grand final of the Copa del Rey will be historic, not only for being another episode in the most important rivalry in football but also because it marks a milestone for the culés. This final, which will take place in La Cartuja, will be the first in the competition for the azulgrana team without Lionel Messi since his departure in 2021.

After 17 seasons (2004-2005 to 2020-2021) in which the Argentine star led the team to 31 finals (10 of them in the Cup), the Catalans face this clash as a turning point in their 'post-Messi' era, which so far has seen 4 finals played, all in the Supercopa de España.

The cup finals with Messi: an epic review

With the '10' on the field, Barça won 7 cup titles and lost only 3 finals, a 70% success rate that reflects their dominance in the tournament. From their first final in 2009 (4-1 against Athletic Club) to the last in 2021 (4-0 against the same rival), Messi scored 9 goals and provided 5 assists in 810 minutes of play across these 9 matches, being decisive at every step.

2009: 4-1 against Athletic.
2012: 3-0 against Athletic.
2015: 3-1 against Athletic.
2016: 2-0 against Sevilla.
2017: 3-1 against Alavés.
2018: 5-0 against Sevilla.
2021: 4-0 against Athletic.
Lost: 2011 (0-1 vs. Real Madrid), 2014 (1-2 vs. Real Madrid) and 2019 (1-2 vs. Valencia).

In those 10 finals, Barça scored 27 goals (2.7 per match), with Messi as the core of the teams managed by Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde, and Ronald Koeman. Their last Cup, in 2021, was a recital: 4-0 against Athletic Club with a stunning long-range goal and another opportunistic one, bringing an end to a golden era. Since then, the tournament has been elusive for Barça... until now.

Without Messi: 3 finals, none in the cup... until 2025

After Messi's departure, Barcelona has played 3 official finals between 2021 and April 2025, all in the Supercopa de España, with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss. However, none of these have been in the Copa del Rey or in prestigious competitions like the Champions League, making the final on April 26 a historic moment: the first major 'post-Messi' final.

2022-2023: Supercopa de España - Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona (15/01/2023). Gavi (33’), Lewandowski (45’) and Pedri (69’) secured the first title without Messi. In the Cup, Madrid eliminated them in the semifinals (4-1 on aggregate).
2023-2024: Supercopa de España - Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona (14/01/2024). Lewandowski scored in the 33’, but Vinicius (x3) and Rodrygo gave the victory to the whites. In the Cup, Athletic stopped them again in the quarter-finals (4-2).
2024-2025: Supercopa de España - Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona (12/01/2025). A historic thrashing led by Lamine, Lewandowski, Raphinha (x2), and Balde. Now, the Cup awaits them.

In 270 minutes of finals (3 matches), Barça has scored 9 goals (3 per match), far from the 2.43 with Messi. The absence of finals in the Copa del Rey or Europe highlights the difficulty of the transition: eliminations in the quarter-finals or semi-finals have been the norm. Until this 2025, when Hansi Flick's unstoppable machine broke the barrier.

Barça played its last Cup final without Messi almost three decades ago

The last Copa del Rey final that Barça played without Lionel Messi in their ranks took place in the 1997-1998 season. In that match, the culés, led by Louis van Gaal, defeated Mallorca in an intense game. The Bermellones took an early lead with a goal from Stanković in the 6th minute, but Rivaldo equalized in the 20’ with a shot from outside the area.

After 120 goalless minutes (including extra time), the final was decided in a penalty shootout. Blaugrana goalkeeper Ruud Hesp would prove heroic, saving Eskurza's last shot, giving Barcelona its 24th Copa del Rey title.

Now, almost 30 years later, Barça will return to the decisive duel of their favorite competition without the best player to have worn the azulgrana shirt in their team, but with a squad full of young stars, top-tier veterans, and a rising legend like Lamine Yamal aiming to conquer their 32nd Cup title against their eternal rival. The stage is set for a night that promises to be historic.