“Against Serbia in 2006, Messi caps Argentina’s 6–0 World Cup rout by finishing a Tevez move in the 88th minute, marking his very first goal on football’s biggest stage and announcing himself as an 18-year-old World Cup scorer.”
In his World Cup debut as an 18-year-old, Messi stepped off the bench against Serbia and Montenegro to score and assist in a 6–0 demolition, instantly lighting up the tournament. This match is remembered as the moment the wider world first saw him dominate a World Cup stage, hinting at the era-defining international career to come.
Against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final Clásico, Messi latches onto Sergio Busquets’ pass to double Barça’s late lead to 2–0, effectively sealing the tie and adding Champions League goal number 36 to his burgeoning career tally.
Against Bayern Munich in a Champions League semi-final, Messi latches onto Ivan Rakitić’s pass to double Barcelona’s lead on the night, capping a masterclass performance en route to his 77th goal in the competition and 452nd of his career.
With Barcelona pegged back at 1–1 in a Champions League quarter-final, Messi latches onto Pedro’s assist to restore the lead against Arsenal, the second act of a four-goal masterclass that drives him toward career goal 130.
Against Manchester United in a Champions League quarter-final, Messi’s second of the night effectively kills the tie by stretching Barcelona’s lead to 2–0 on the night and 3–0 on aggregate, pushing him to 110 goals in the competition and 662 for his career.