“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.”
At just 22, Messi hits a Champions League quarter-final poker against Arsenal, turning a tight tie into a one-man demolition that underlines his early-era dominance on Europe’s biggest stage.
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.
Against a Chelsea side that had frustrated him for years, Messi pounces on Luis Suárez’s early assist to break the deadlock in the third minute and set Barcelona on their way, moving to the brink of his 100th Champions League goal.
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.