With a brace and a slick assist driving Barcelona’s attack, Messi dominates Levante from start to finish, constantly carrying the ball forward and creating chances as the undisputed engine of this early-season league win.
With Barcelona wobbling in a tense league run-in, Messi restores a 2–1 lead over Valencia from Jordi Alba’s pass, and the strike quietly doubles as the 500th goal of his professional career.
With Barcelona already ahead against Rayo, Messi doubles the lead to put the game out of reach and, almost casually, brings up his 300th career goal at just 25 years old.
Against Atlético’s packed defence at 0–0, Messi takes Suárez’s layoff on the edge of the box and, almost side-on to goal, threads a low left-foot shot precisely inside the far post for a stoppage-time winner and his 428th La Liga goal.
From a tight central pocket against Sevilla’s packed line, Messi calmly side-foots a low left-foot finish just inside the post to crack open the 0-0 and set Barcelona’s 5–0 rout in motion, his 94th La Liga goal and eventual winner.