“In a Supercopa final with Barcelona only one goal ahead, Messi calmly converts from the spot to double the lead against Athletic Club, tightening Barça’s grip on the trophy and adding to his growing early-season tally.”
A ruthless brace in the Supercopa final sees Messi take full control of the tie, converting a penalty and adding another from open play to seal Barcelona’s first trophy of the season at age 22.
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.
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.
Against Real Madrid in an El Clásico Supercopa final, Messi calmly converts from the spot to double Barcelona’s lead under rivalry pressure, marking his 75th career penalty and 13th goal in the competition.
Against LAFC in a tense Champions Cup quarter-final, Messi calms the stadium by waiting out the keeper and rolling his late penalty into the opposite corner to restore a two-goal cushion at 3–1, sealing progression and marking career goal 858.