Messi 2008–09 season

With Ronaldinho's departure from the club, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey. On 1 October 2008, during a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Messi scored two goals during the last seven minutes after coming on as a substitute for Thierry Henry, to turn the score from 0-1 to a victory for Barcelona 2-1. The next league game was versus Atlético Madrid, a match billed as a friendly battle between Lionel and good friend Sergio Agüero. Messi scored a goal from a free kick and assisted another as Barça went on to win the match 6-1. Messi netted another impressive brace against Sevilla scoring a spectacular dipping volley after being played through by Xavi and then rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle to double his tally. On 13 December 2008, during the first Clásico of the season, Messi scored the second goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Real Madrid. He was named second in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards with 678 points. Messi scored his first hat-trick of 2009 in a Copa del Rey tie against Atlético Madrid. Messi scored another important double on 1 February 2009, coming on as a second half substitute to help Barcelona defeat Racing Santander 2-1 after being 0-1 down. The second of the two strikes was Barcelona's 5000th league goal. In the 28th round of La Liga, Messi scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions, helping his team to a 6-0 victory over Málaga CF in the process. On 8 April 2009, he scored twice against FC Bayern Munich in the Champions' League, setting a personal record of eight goals in the competition.