The 2021–22 season marked a dramatic turning point for FC Barcelona, as severe financial turmoil forced the departure of iconic captain Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain, ending a 21-year era and leading to the exit of Antoine Griezmann. The club's poor domestic form, dropping to ninth in the league by late October, triggered the sacking of coach Ronald Koeman, who was replaced by club legend Xavi Hernandez. Xavi orchestrated a remarkable revival with key winter signings like Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, highlighted by a stunning 4-0 thrashing of Real Madrid at the Bernabéu that propelled Barcelona to second place. However, their resurgence was not enough to secure silverware, as an upset exit to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League (a competition they hadn't entered since 2003-04) and late-season league stumbles left them trophyless behind runaway champions Real Madrid. Notably, this was the final campaign with Rakuten as the main sponsor, and the team debuted unconventional kits, including a home shirt featuring crest graphics instead of traditional stripes and a European-themed design with landmarks like the original La Masia. Despite the historic comeback and the memorable win at the Bernabéu, the season ultimately underscored the club's financial constraints and its changed place among Europe's elite.