“Against Bayern Munich in a tense Champions League semi-final locked at 0–0, Messi finally breaks the deadlock from a Dani Alves assist, igniting Barcelona’s 3–0 first-leg win and pushing his career tally to 451 goals.”
In a Champions League semi-final against Bayern, Messi breaks open a tense tie with a devastating brace—including that iconic ankle-breaking second—and then sets up Neymar, almost single-handedly deciding the route to the final at his peak powers.
Against a relentless Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final, Messi doubles Barcelona’s lead to tilt the tie decisively their way, and the strike also becomes his mythical 600th goal for the club.
In a tense El Clásico Champions League semi-final deadlocked at 0–0, Messi latches onto Afellay’s low cross to break Madrid’s resistance and give Barcelona a crucial first-leg lead, on the way to a brace and his 35th Champions League goal.
In a Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona trailing Arsenal, Messi’s first strike instantly drags Barça level and ignites the four-goal masterclass that turns this night into his iconic Camp Nou ‘poker’, capped as career goal No.129 and his 22nd in the competition.
Against Manchester United in a Champions League quarter-final with the tie still goalless, Messi breaks the deadlock at Camp Nou to put Barcelona in control on the night and moves his tally to 109 goals in the competition.