“Sergio Agüero’s assist sets up Messi to extend Argentina’s lead over Bolivia at the 2021 Copa América, a group-stage stroll that quietly includes his 75th international strike and contributes to his century of penalty goals in a tournament that finally transforms his legacy with the national team.”
Messi’s penalty here brings up his 100th career spot-kick goal and helps power a two-goal, one-assist captain’s display in a Copa América group match that builds Argentina’s momentum toward the drought-ending 2021 title run.
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.
With Argentina trailing 1–0 in a must-win World Cup qualifier in Quito, Messi latches onto Ángel Di María’s early pass to level the score and ignite the hat-trick that drags his country back toward Russia, bringing up career goal 580 in the process.
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.