The four-times World Player of the Year and leading scorer in one of the greatest club teams of all time, was a shadow of his usual self at San Siro in a Champions League last 16 first leg last week, when Barcelona slumped to a 2-0 defeat.
The same happened again at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, when Cristiano Ronaldo, the player with whom he is always compared, scored twice in a 3-1 second-leg victory to guide Real into the King's Cup final, 4-2 on aggregate.
Portugal's Ronaldo has shaken off accusations that he went missing when the going got tough, and in scoring against Barca he passed Messi's record to become the first player to score in six straight 'Clasicos' away from home.
"It is about the team, not about whether Messi is better or worse," Barca and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta told a news conference on Wednesday, defending his team-mate.
"We have scored a lot of goals, and so has he in particular. It is just in these two key games we have lacked accuracy and composure. When the team doesn't work well, it is everyone's responsibility."
He shrugged off suggestions he was tired on the weekend telling, Barca TV: "I am used to playing a lot of games now, and I prefer it this way. I feel better if I don't rest."
Messi is La Liga's top scorer with 38 goals, netting more goals himself than 16 other teams have individually tallied up in the 20-team league. However, he and his team have struggled when confronted with tightly-organised defences of late.
Although his assistant Jordi Roura is in constant contact, there is little doubt that Vilanova's tactical knowledge has been missed in games at a time of the season when coaches really earn their money.
Barca have become too reliant on Messi's goals, with fellow forwards Alexis Sanchez, David Villa and Pedro contributing only 12 between them in the league.
"Madrid destroyed Barca in every facet of the game, with an indisputable and overwhelming victory," sports daily Marca wrote on Wednesday.
"Fe
