“At 90+2', Messi caps Inter Miami’s Round of 16 win over Cavalier FC by turning Santiago Morales’ late assist into a clinching second goal, sealing a 2–0 first-leg cushion and logging career strike number 853.”
In a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 tie, 37-year-old Messi opens the scoring and calmly controls the first half before being subbed after 38 minutes, giving Inter Miami a crucial knockout-stage lead with minimal time on the pitch.
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.