“With Betis pushing for an equaliser at 3–2, Messi calmly converts from the spot to restore a two-goal cushion in the closing minutes, adding career goal No. 232 and his 35th of the season.”
Messi’s brace, including a calmly taken penalty, keeps Barcelona in control of a wild league encounter against Betis as he leads the attack for the full 90 minutes in his age-24 prime.
In a World Cup final seen as his last chance at the trophy, Messi breaks the deadlock against France with an ice-cold penalty under immense pressure, setting Argentina on their way and recording his 12th World Cup strike and 792nd career goal.
In a World Cup semi-final against Croatia with Argentina’s campaign on a knife-edge, Messi calmly whips his penalty into the top corner to break the deadlock and move to 11 World Cup goals and 791 in his career.
In a frantic El Clásico at 3–3, Messi calmly pauses on the spot, waits for López to commit, then rolls the late penalty back across him to complete his hat-trick and restore Barça’s lead, sealing La Liga goal number 236 and career strike 384 under maximum pressure.
Against the Netherlands in a World Cup quarter-final, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to make it 2–0 under immense pressure, a nerveless finish that also brings up his 10th World Cup goal.