Lionel Messi recently reflected on Fraser Forster’s incredible display against Barcelona during Celtic’s famous 2-1 Champions League victory in 2012.
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The match, which stunned football fans worldwide, saw Forster pull off a staggering 13 saves despite Barcelona dominating possession with 89% and taking 23 shots on goal.
At the time, Messi was at his peak, and Barcelona were virtually unstoppable. Yet, Forster’s heroics at Parkhead left the Argentine star in awe.
“His performance against us was talked about for a long time,” Messi admitted. “That night in Scotland, he was not human. It was the best goalkeeping display I’ve ever seen. When Victor Valdes announced he was leaving, we even discussed bringing Forster to Barcelona.”
Now 36, Forster serves as a backup goalkeeper at Tottenham in the Premier League. Responding to Messi’s high praise in October 2023, Forster told Spursplay, “It’s amazing to hear those words. You can’t put it into words, really.
We’d played them two weeks earlier and lost 2-1 in the final minutes, but I’d made a few good saves in that game too. That experience gave us confidence going into the home match, knowing we had the fans behind us.”
Recalling the atmosphere and his performance that night, Forster added, “It was one of those games where everything goes your way. You make an early save, and it builds momentum. That Barcelona team – if you don’t enjoy playing against them, you shouldn’t be on the pitch.
The noise that night was incredible. We went 2-0 up, and even though they scored late on, it was unforgettable.”
Forster described being in a near-meditative state during the game. “It felt like I was seeing the ball as big as a gym ball. Afterward, I couldn’t sleep—it was just surreal. Half my memories from that night are of the fans and the atmosphere rather than specific saves. It was the occasion that made it so special.”
Celtic’s historic win remains one of the Champions League’s most memorable moments, and Forster’s legendary performance continues to be celebrated, even by a legend like Messi.
