The year Barcelona broke every record and faced a tragic loss
In short: In the 2015–16 season, FC Barcelona achieved a historic haul of trophies and shattered long-standing records. Yet, behind the scenes of this dominant era, the club navigated a grueling period of injuries to its core stars and the profound loss of its greatest icon.
The 2015–16 campaign was defined by a relentless pursuit of silverware. After completing a continental treble in the previous year, Barcelona secured a domestic double by winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. They also captured the UEFA Super Cup and a record third FIFA Club World Cup title. A standout moment occurred on December 20, when they defeated River Plate 3–0; Luis Suárez scored a tournament-high five goals, including a hat trick in the semi-final, earning him the Adidas Golden Ball. However, the quest for a second consecutive sextuple was thwarted by a 0–4 loss to Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de España.
The season was also a period of unprecedented statistical dominance and individual milestones. Barcelona set a new record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, netting 180 goals in 2015 to surpass Real Madrid's 178. Lionel Messi reached several historic peaks, including scoring his 300th and 301st La Liga goals—the first player ever to do so—and hitting the 10,000th goal in club history against Arsenal. The squad also established a new club record for an unbeaten run in Spanish football, reaching 35 games, a feat that surpassed the previous record held by Real Madrid's 1988–89 side.
Despite the accolades, the season was marred by significant setbacks. The club lost key pillars to injury, including a season-ending ACL tear for Rafinha and a multi-week MCL injury for Messi. Atlético Madrid eliminated the side from the Champions League during the quarter-finals, mirroring a peculiar outcome from a prior season. Most poignantly, the season was overshadowed by the death of legendary figure Johan Cruyff on March 24, 2016. His passing forced the club to mourn at half-mast, marking a somber end to a year of historic highs and lows.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2015–16 FC Barcelona season
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