#78Career AssistMemorable
“With the tie finely poised at 0–0 in a Champions League knockout at Arsenal, Messi’s perfectly timed through ball slices the defence open for Villa to break the deadlock, sealing his 20th assist of the season and 78th of his career.”
Knockout Stage
Year2011
UCL#9
2010/11'#20
2011#304
UCL · R16 · 1st Leg2011-02-16 · 19:45:00
2-1
Arsenal
Barcelona
1A
In a tense Champions League Round of 16 first leg away at Arsenal, Messi orchestrates Barcelona’s attacks with 90% passing and a key assist to put them ahead, extending his dominant European form even as the tie slips away late.
Minute26'
Score
0-0→0-1
xG
—
Impact
—
Scorer: David Villa
Similar Assists
Assist#349
2022
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.
Knockout Stage
@
Croatia0–3
Dec 13Assist#183
2015
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.
Knockout StageLast Minute
vs
Bayern Munich3–0May 6Assist#251
2018
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.
Knockout Stage
@
France4–3
Jun 30Assist#314
2021
With Argentina protecting a narrow lead deep in a Copa América quarter-final, Messi’s perfectly timed through ball slices Ecuador open to spring Lautaro Martínez clear and double the advantage, a pressure-soaked assist that pushes his side toward the semi-finals and marks career assist number 314.
Knockout Stage
@
Ecuador0–3
Jul 3Assist Sequence
No data
ReceiptCarryDribbleShotUnder PressureWith ballPass
ReceiptCarryDribbleShotPass
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