Lionel Messi was met by some unhappy Barcelona fans at John Lennon Airport after the Spanish champions’ 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Despite leading 3-0 on aggregate after the first leg, Messi was powerless to stop the second leg collapse of Ernesto Valverde’s men.
Divock Origi and Gini Wijnaldum both scored twice to leave Messi’s hopes of a fifth Champions League triumph in tatters, with the Argentine having promised Blaugrana fans the trophy at the start of the campaign.
Messi was left inconsolable in the dressing room at Anfield, cutting a desolate figure in the corridors.
Teams officials tried to console the 31-year-old, but he couldn’t mask the tears.
Liverpool vs Barcelona: Spanish media react to amazing Champions League comeback
To add insult to injury, Messi was also left behind at the ground after being selected to perform UEFA’s random drugs test after the game and give a urine sample.
That process took longer than expected however, leaving Barca chiefs to order the team bus to head to the Airport without him.
Messi eventually was taken back through the media mixed zone, and kept his glazed eyes fixed firmly on the floor, before being taken via car - alongside Barca chief Pepe Costa - to join his teammates for the flight back to Barcelona .
When he arrived, Messi, flanked by security staff, was accosted by some travelling supporters, who expressed their displeasure at another Champions League capitulation - 13 months after the remontada in Rome.
Far from a face-to-face altercation however, Messi was on one side of the security carousel, with fans waiting on the other; a disappointed Messi questioned what their issue was from afar.
There were also other Barcelona fans in attendance however, who were quick to applaud their talisman's efforts on a dismal night for his side.
Messi returned home with his teammates, one of whom, Sergio Busquets, apologised to Barcelona fans at Anfield.
"They have been better than us," he said. "I apologise. After what happened in Rome, this happened again.
"It's tough to go out like this after the first-leg result."
