Many football enthusiasts in Nigeria believe the outcome of Barcelona's Uefa Champions League round of 16 second leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain might have changed if Lionel Messi had scored his first-half penalty.
Both teams settled for a 1-1 draw in Paris on Wednesday which secured passage for the French club to advance following a 4-1 victory in the first-leg.
Shortly after he cancelled Mbappe's opener with a lovely strike from outside the box in the 37th minute, Messi stepped forward to take Barca's penalty on the stroke of half-time but his effort was denied by Keylor Navas' save.
The missed chance got fans disappointed as Ronald Koeman’s men crashed out of the knockout stage with a 5-2 aggregate loss.
Ousmane Dembele was particularly singled out for his poor finishing as Barcelona failed to advance into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Barcelona fans can at least rejoice that Messi scored a golazo.
— Rayo Kasali #TheAether (@RayoKasali) March 10, 2021
That should soothe the pains of yet another champions league knockout.
Knockout club! #PSGBAR pic.twitter.com/5oUALQkoWh
No miracle could happen,Barcelona needs to start getting the likes of Dembele Linglet etc out of the team and get the right crop of players else same story will play next season
— Jonel (@JohnJonel2) March 10, 2021
Bruh. Messi PK miss is worse than all of dembele chances man. Then that one alba setup for Messi (in the box, in front of the post) mehn, Messi n dembele together abeg
— search R DUNT on audiomack (@OfficialRdunt) March 10, 2021
Where was this Barcelona in the first leg?
— Aproko Doctor (@aproko_doctor) March 10, 2021
I don't care about the loss tonight.
— PRINCE OFFICIAL (@tndlawal) March 10, 2021
Barcelona played proper football. However, some things need to be fixed:
-Dembele needs to be more physical
-Griezmann needs to practice shooting more, he just needs more confidence with shooting and he's good to go🔥
If they had scored that penalty, it would have been a different ball game. They would probably have scored more and qualify. But no, Messi said No.
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) March 10, 2021
How you go miss penalty for this kain game?
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) March 10, 2021
Why didn't Barcelona play like this in the first leg at the Nou camp?
— Godwin Enakhena (@genakhena) March 10, 2021
Barcelona fans really expected a comeback with that championship squad? 🤡 🤡
— AB'DUL (@AdamJnr_) March 10, 2021
Barcelona fan 🤣 https://t.co/SO4FUondSm
— Bright (@Bright_Uchemadu) March 10, 2021
Barcelona will do a come back tonight, and it will be a comeback to camp Nou
— hot-henry (@heanrel) March 10, 2021
Barcelona bus 🚌 waiting outside like pic.twitter.com/7yWK3wRHgq
— Nwa Gunnerz💤 (@oge_jenny) March 10, 2021
Barcelona have put up a classic display of what we like to call beautiful nonsense.
— Amande.Solomon.Chibuzor (@God_sPsychopath) March 10, 2021
If they renew Dembele’s contract, then I’m done with @FCBarcelona .
— Mrs. (@Tobohray) March 10, 2021
👌🏽
Special shooting training for dembele @FCBarcelona please.
— ⚓Jay Jay (@iam_josephjay2) March 10, 2021
Dembele was bussy playing against Barcelona 😭😭😭
— sunny🖤 (@c_ewenike) March 10, 2021
Messi losing that penalty cost Barcelona the game.
— F.A.C.T (@FerrytimCharis) March 10, 2021
That's it.
— Olaleye Dada (@olaleyedada) March 10, 2021
Barcelona's journey ends. PSG through to the last 8.
No Ronaldo or Messi in the quarterfinals.
We don't need your goats in the competition. Mbappe and Harland will give us the entertainment 😀
Too many missed chances caused barcelona this tie...
— Man Dem Ma Call (@Alexeli69) March 10, 2021
Again that missed Penalty.
But good performance from Barcelona. #PSGBAR
The damage was done in the first leg. Good thing is that the coach is learning with every match. Barcelona is an exciting project with so many promising young players. #PSGBAR
— Tayo Zubair (@RasaqZ) March 10, 2021
Barcelona wishing they had Penaldo or Bruno Penandes 😂 #PSGBAR
— Omoba (@ThompsonBusayo) March 10, 2021
Perfect football game by Barcelona players but as usual our attackers led us down... Same day same wasted chances...
— 💚Ibraheem D'absolute💛 (@Dabsolute123) March 10, 2021
Dear Laporta you have one job sell Dembele, Griezmann, Brithwaite and Coutinho #PSGbarca
Good game from the lads.
— search R DUNT on audiomack (@OfficialRdunt) March 10, 2021
Messi n Dembele has to take all the blame, with their missed chances. But all round, its a good game from the lads.
Vamos @FCBarcelona
Proud of this team @FCBarcelona ... The intensity, the tenacity, the fighting spirit can never be questioned. We are getting better.
— Adeoye Aduragbemi (@EaAdeoye) March 10, 2021
Messi bottled the penalty that could have made it PSG 1 Barcelona 5. O ma se o
— Certified Ghetto Wild 💯 (@ajifolajifaola7) March 10, 2021
In 2015, Barcelona and Juventus were playing in the Champions League Final.
— #BookOfAHundredRhymes (@ChumaNnoli) March 10, 2021
In 2021, Barcelona and Juventus are knocked out of the Champions League in the Round of 16.
How things have changed over time. #UCL