“With Barcelona trailing in this Copa del Rey knockout tie, Messi latches onto Griezmann’s pass to haul his side level at 1–1 against Rayo Vallecano, a vital equalizer that also becomes career goal number 720.”
On a five-game scoring streak, Messi leads Barcelona through a Copa del Rey knockout tie at Rayo with a full‑match, man‑of‑the‑match display capped by a crucial goal to turn the game around after his side falls behind.
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 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.