On May 27, 2009, FC Barcelona, arguably the most iconic club in world soccer, beat Manchester United 2-0 to claim the UEFA Champions League title. Thousands of fans watching on a giant screen near the harbor went bonkers when Lionel Messi, then and now arguably the world’s most popular soccer star, vaulted his 5-foot-7 frame into the air to head home a 70th minute goal that sealed the win. People danced. People kissed. Beer was spilled everywhere.
Fans poured into the streets after the match’s final whistle. In one plaza, a rock band played tribute songs to the team’s biggest stars. Running through cobblestoned streets to take it all in, a friend and I veered around small fires where revelers gathered to sing and chant. We grabbed one of the tennis ball-sized rubber orbs police fired to try to quell the hysteria.
The scene was pure chaos — but giddy, joyous chaos.
Fast forward to the present day, and a different sort of disarray has enveloped the club — bureaucratic, dysfunctional, somewhat mysterious. It’s a devolution that reached new heights this week and has made the powerful club look feeble and confused… see more
source: mashable
Tags: FC Barcelona, Messi, PTV Sports, sports
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