LIONEL MESSI

With Argentina already 2–0 up in World Cup qualifying stoppage time, Messi threads a perfectly timed pass that splits Bolivia’s tiring back line and releases Julián Álvarez to make it 3–0, capping a first-half masterclass and logging career assist number 377.

vsBolivia6-0Oct 15

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.

@Croatia0-3Dec 13

With Argentina trailing 1–0 in a must-win World Cup qualifier in Quito, Messi latches onto Ángel Di María’s early pass to level the score and ignite the hat-trick that drags his country back toward Russia, bringing up career goal 580 in the process.

@Ecuador1-3Oct 10