“With Barcelona already cruising at 4–1 in this Champions League group opener, Messi threads a late pass that frees Dembélé to cap the rout, wrapping up a 10/10 man-of-the-match display and bringing his career tally to 299 assists.”
In Barcelona’s first Champions League group match after a league defeat, Messi steadies the campaign with a dominant 90-minute display, scoring from the spot and threading a trademark assist to lead a 5–1 rout of Ferencváros as man of the match.
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 1–1 in a World Cup knockout thriller against France, Messi’s quick-thinking touch and stabbed pass through a crowded box create the deflected opening for Mercado to restore Argentina’s lead, marking career assist number 251.