“With Inter Miami already ahead, Messi’s second goal against Nashville SC in this CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 tie turns control into dominance, capping a star turn on the night and pushing him to career goal No. 826.”
In a high-stakes CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 tie, Messi scores and adds a slick assist inside 49 minutes to take Man of the Match and put Inter Miami in control of the knockout clash against Nashville.
Against Liverpool in a Champions League semi-final, Messi’s late third for Barcelona turns a tight 2–0 into a daunting 3–0 cushion and also marks his 600th goal for the club, a mythic milestone reached on one of Europe’s biggest stages.
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.
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.
With Barcelona needing four more goals in the historic 6–1 comeback, Messi calmly buries a high-pressure penalty to restore the lead at 2–1 against PSG, pushing the remontada back on course and taking his Champions League tally to 94.