“From a tight central pocket just outside the box, Messi stays almost upright and whips a quick, skidding left‑footer beyond Racing’s keeper to double Barça’s lead, a low‑xG finish that becomes career goal 98 and his 58th in La Liga.”
A 22-year-old Messi tears Racing apart with a ruthless brace and a slick assist in just 62 minutes, dictating Barcelona’s early-season league win with near-perfect passing and relentless dribbling from the right.
From just inside the box, Messi pauses his stride to let Busquets’ pass roll across his body, then whips a first-time left-foot finish across the keeper for his fourth of the night, capping a ruthless poker as career goal 575 and La Liga strike 356.
From a tight first-half angle against Betis, Messi stays upright through pressure and whips a composed left-foot finish across goal to double Barça’s lead, sealing the eventual winner and pushing his tally to 314 career goals and 192 in La Liga.
From a tight central pocket against Almería’s packed box, Messi stays almost side-on to goal and calmly threads a low left-foot finish just inside the post to break the deadlock, setting him up to later reach 99 La Liga goals in the same match.
With Atlético’s defence retreating late on, Messi pauses at the edge of the box and then whips a low left‑footed shot just inside the far post, doubling Barça’s lead and recording career goal 660.