“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.
Against seven-time European champions Milan in a tense quarter-final deadlock, Messi calmly sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot to launch Barcelona’s 3–1 win and quietly reach 50 goals in the Champions League.