By the end of the season, Barcelona had not won the Champions League (losing to Chelsea in the semifinals) nor the Copa del Rey. The lack of a treble is often cited as a flaw. But that argument misses the point: 2011-12 was not Barcelona’s best team season. It was Messi’s best individual season. He carried a defensively shaky side (Barca conceded 29 league goals) to 100 points and a La Liga title on sheer willpower.

Only two men have ever scored 50 in a major European league—Messi (2011-12) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2014-15). But Messi did it in 37 appearances (Ronaldo needed 35). More importantly, he added 19 assists. That means Messi was directly responsible for 69 of Barcelona’s 114 league goals—.

In the debate over Lionel Messi’s greatest season, there is no debate. There is only 2011-12.

In the end, the numbers are a monument. 73 goals. 32 assists. 50 in the league. No debate. No sequel. Just the perfect storm of talent, system, and relentless consistency—a season that remains, a decade later, the absolute ceiling of what a footballer can be.