In a statement El Clásico at the Bernabéu, Messi tears Real Madrid apart as a 21-year-old false nine, scoring twice and adding a slick assist to spearhead one of Barcelona’s most iconic rivalry wins.
At 1–0 down in stoppage time of a Champions League semi-final, Messi’s perfectly weighted layoff at the edge of a packed Chelsea box unlocks the only shooting lane Iniesta needs, turning looming elimination into a last-gasp equalizer and his 45th career assist.
At 0–1 down against Sevilla, Messi threads the pass that unlocks the defence and drags Barça level, a momentum-shifting equaliser that also stands as his 150th career assist.
With Barcelona trailing at home to Milan in their Champions League opener, Messi threads the equaliser-making pass that slices open a packed defence, restoring control before halftime and adding assist number 94 of his career.
With PSG trailing 0–1 at home, Messi threads the equalizing pass that releases Mbappé at just the right moment, swinging the match back toward Paris and adding career assist number 324 to his tally.