“With Barcelona already in control, Messi calmly pauses on the spot, waits out the keeper and rolls his penalty into the corner to all but kill this Copa del Rey tie, bringing him to 30 goals in the competition and 423 in his career.”
On a hot scoring streak, Messi coolly buries a Copa del Rey R16 penalty and adds two slick assists, leading Barcelona’s response after a league defeat and effectively killing the tie against Elche in the first leg.
Against seven-time European champions Milan in a tense quarter-final deadlock, Messi calmly sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot to launch Barcelona’s 3–1 win and quietly reach 50 goals in the Champions League.
With Barcelona needing four more goals in the historic 6–1 comeback, Messi calmly buries a high-pressure penalty to restore the lead at 2–1 against PSG, pushing the remontada back on course and taking his Champions League tally to 94.
Against Milan in a tense quarter-final deadlock, Messi calmly sends the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot to restore Barça’s lead before halftime and bring up his 51st Champions League goal.
Against Real Madrid in an El Clásico Supercopa final, Messi calmly converts from the spot to double Barcelona’s lead under rivalry pressure, marking his 75th career penalty and 13th goal in the competition.