“At 0–2 down in a Copa del Rey quarter-final, Messi threads the pass that starts Tello’s fightback and ultimately his own assist hat-trick, a pure playmaker’s response that turns a bleak scoreline into career assist No.145 and the platform for Barcelona’s 4–1 turnaround.”
Messi records his first career assist hat-trick, running the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Levante as a pure playmaker with three defence-splitting passes that decide the tie without him needing to score.
At 118 minutes of a World Cup knockout tie still locked at 0–0, Messi’s surge through the Swiss lines draws defenders and frees Di María, his perfectly timed pass finally cracking the deadlock for Argentina and standing as his 155th career assist.
In a Wembley final locked at 0–0 against European champions Italy, Messi’s burst and cutback from the left carve open a packed defence for Lautaro Martínez, his vision breaking the deadlock and pushing his career tally to 330 assists.
Trailing 0–2 in the MLS Cup final, Messi threads the pass that finally cracks Vancouver’s block and sparks Inter Miami’s comeback, his late‑career vision turning a desperate lifeline into career assist No.406 and his second of a Man of the Match performance.
At 0–0 in the 115th minute of the UEFA Super Cup final, Messi’s vision finally pries open Shakhtar’s defence for Pedro, a fatigued moment of clarity that delivers Barcelona the trophy and registers his 47th career assist, first of the season.