“In a tense Bernabéu Clásico with Barcelona only one up, Messi calmly sends Keylor Navas the wrong way from the spot to all but kill the contest at 2–0, adding La Liga goal number 364 to his colossal tally.”
In a charged Bernabéu Clásico, Messi dictates the game with 9 key passes, a coolly taken penalty and a late assist, directly orchestrating Barcelona’s statement away win over Real Madrid.
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.