“At 2–1 in a tense second leg, Messi receives Busquets’ pass on the edge of the box and, with his body almost square to goal, calmly threads a low right-footed finish through defenders to restore a two-goal cushion and move to 108 Champions League strikes.”
With Barcelona needing a decisive Champions League knockout win, Messi delivers a devastating 2-goal, 2-assist performance that drives a 5–1 rout of Lyon and personally powers their passage to the quarter-finals.
Against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final Clásico, Messi latches onto Sergio Busquets’ pass to double Barça’s late lead to 2–0, effectively sealing the tie and adding Champions League goal number 36 to his burgeoning career tally.
Against Bayern Munich in a Champions League semi-final, Messi latches onto Ivan Rakitić’s pass to double Barcelona’s lead on the night, capping a masterclass performance en route to his 77th goal in the competition and 452nd of his career.
With Barcelona pegged back at 1–1 in a Champions League quarter-final, Messi latches onto Pedro’s assist to restore the lead against Arsenal, the second act of a four-goal masterclass that drives him toward career goal 130.
Against a Chelsea side that had frustrated him for years, Messi pounces on Luis Suárez’s early assist to break the deadlock in the third minute and set Barcelona on their way, moving to the brink of his 100th Champions League goal.