“At 4–1 in stoppage time of a dominant Champions League opener, Messi threads one more incisive pass that releases Dani Alves to cap Barcelona’s rout of Panathinaikos, sealing his first assist of the season and 59th of his career.”
A ruthless group-stage brace and slick assist in the Champions League opener, Messi tears through Panathinaikos to turn an early scare into a dominant statement and kickstart Barcelona’s European campaign in style.
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 Copa América semi-final, Messi threads a late pass that slices open the tiring U.S. back line, springing Higuaín to seal a 4–0 rout and cap one of his most dominant tournament displays, adding career assist No. 213 and his 27th of the season.