“With Barcelona already cruising at 3–0 against Granada, Dani Alves tees up Messi to push the rout to 4–0 and, almost casually, seal his 400th career goal, turning a routine league win into a historic personal landmark.”
Messi reaches the 400-career-goal landmark with a ruthless brace and two assists in a flowing La Liga rout of Granada, turning a mythical number into just another checkpoint in a complete creative-destroyer performance.
Against Deportivo with the game still goalless, Messi darts onto Rafinha’s early cross and steers a close-range header inside the far post to break the deadlock, chalking up La Liga goal number 285 of his career.
Against defending champions Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final, Messi doubles Barcelona’s lead from a Xavi assist to all but seal the European crown, adding his 17th goal in the competition to his growing legend.
Zlatan Ibrahimović hangs up a late cross and Messi darts onto it, steering a close-range header inside the far post to seal Barcelona’s 2–0 league win over Getafe, his 55th La Liga goal and 95th of his career.
At 6–1 in stoppage time, Messi darts onto Xavi’s clipped cross and guides a close-range header inside the far post, capping his brace and bringing up career goal number 54.