Against Real Sociedad, Messi meets a looping ball with a first-time left-foot volley that rockets through traffic to double Barça’s lead just before half-time, capping it as La Liga goal number 341 and career strike 556.
Dani Alves’s clipped cross sits up awkwardly and Messi meets it with a crisp left‑foot half‑volley into the corner to break Osasuna’s resistance and start an 8–0 rout, the opener contributing to his remarkable 300th goal contribution for Barcelona.
In a World Cup final seen as his last chance at the trophy, Messi breaks the deadlock against France with an ice-cold penalty under immense pressure, setting Argentina on their way and recording his 12th World Cup strike and 792nd career goal.
In a World Cup semi-final against Croatia with Argentina’s campaign on a knife-edge, Messi calmly whips his penalty into the top corner to break the deadlock and move to 11 World Cup goals and 791 in his career.