“With Barcelona stuck at 0–0 in a tense league game, Messi threads the move that finally opens Levante’s defence for Ansu Fati, breaking the deadlock and pushing his season tally to 12 assists and 284 in his career.”
In a routine league outing where Barcelona need stability after patchy form, Messi drives the attack with 10 shots and 7 key passes, delivering two precise assists that directly tilt a tight game and underline his playmaking dominance even without scoring.
At 2–0 up in a World Cup semi-final against Croatia, Messi’s twisting run on the right pulls Gvardiol apart and carves out the byline angle for Álvarez to tap in, sealing the final spot and logging career assist 349.
At 2–0 in a Champions League semi-final against Bayern, Messi threads a stoppage-time pass that releases Neymar to seal a 3–0 first-leg cushion, capping his masterclass with career assist number 183.
In a 5–0 El Clásico demolition already at 2–0, Messi’s perfectly timed through ball slices Real Madrid open for Villa to make it three, capping a masterclass in control and vision on the way to his 65th career assist.
At 3–0 in a rampant El Clásico, Messi’s perfectly timed through ball slices Madrid open again, springing Villa into the clear to turn humiliation into a 4–0 rout and sealing one of his great derby masterclasses, capped as career assist number 66.