The 2007-08 campaign for Barcelona was a turbulent yet pivotal season, marking the end of the Frank Rijkaard era and the beginning of a profound transition. The Blaugrana finished 3rd in La Liga and reached the semi-finals of both the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League, ultimately losing to Valencia and Manchester United, respectively. While the team was stacked with stars, including the league's joint-top scorer Samuel Eto'o with 16 goals, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and the new signing Thierry Henry, the season was defined by the fading magic of Ronaldinho in his final year and the simultaneous, electrifying emergence of a young Lionel Messi as a key player. This period of disappointment and struggle laid the groundwork for the revolutionary era that was to follow.