Lionel Messi was undone by wet and windy conditions at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, but the Barcelona star is regarded as one of the world's 100 most influential figures.
The prestigious TIME Magazine selected the Argentinian forward as someone who can “inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world” in their 2012 edition.
Other athletes who figure include NBA star Jeremy Lin and world number one tennis champion Novak Djokovic, while Messi was the only footballer selected.
It isn’t the first time the 24-year-old has graced the pages of the magazine. In January, TIME’s cover featured the portrait of the three-time European Footballer of the Year with the title "King Leo".
He wasn't so influential at Stamford Bridge last night though, as Chelsea beat Barcelona 1-0 in the Champions League.