Lionel Messi’s greatest ever games for Barcelona

Lionel Messi wrote his title additional into the Barcelona historical past books on Sunday when he made his record-breaking 768th look for the membership.

Fittingly, he stole the present as Barcelona hit Actual Sociedad for six, scoring twice and creating one other to mark the event in critical fashion.

The Argentine’s roll of honour in that point is much too lengthy to record in full, however the headlines from his 768 video games up to now embrace some staggering numbers: 663 objectives (greater than anybody has ever scored for a single membership in soccer historical past), 291 assists, 48 hat-tricks and 33 main trophies.

These are figures which place him firmly within the debate for the best participant of all time, but even they don’t totally illustrate the affect Messi has had on virtually each Barcelona sport he has performed in since his debut 17 years in the past.

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No matter the place you stand on the GOAT debate, there may be little argument that Messi is the only real contender for the title of Barca’s biggest ever – no imply feat at a membership which boasts the likes of Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Xavi and Andres Iniesta amongst their alumni.

Hypothesis over the 33-year-old’s future continues to rage along with his contract expiring this summer season and having been stored on the membership towards his will final yr, and there stays a really actual risk that his glowing Camp Nou profession could possibly be coming to an finish sooner moderately than later.

Even when that does occur, Messi has already left behind a era of genius, virtually 20 years of persistently hair-raising, goosebump-inducing and jaw-dropping moments as a Barcelona participant, and his record-breaking look is pretty much as good a time as any to delve into that treasure trove of artistry.

With that in thoughts, Sports activities Mole has taken on the totally pleasant job of selecting out Messi’s 20 biggest ever Barcelona performances – strive as we’d, we couldn’t reduce the record down any extra, and we’re nonetheless omitting some shows which might be career-defining matches for many gamers.

Sit again and luxuriate in the easiest of the very best!

20. Barcelona 2-0 Manchester United (Might 27, 2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkR_CBgZ8YA

It’s a mark of the ludicrous customary on this record {that a} excellent efficiency in a Champions League remaining solely makes it to quantity 20.

The buildup to the 2009 Champions League remaining was all about Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo – a rivalry which was nonetheless in its early phases however which had already generated vital hype even earlier than the latter’s transfer to Actual Madrid.

Ronaldo already had one Ballon d’Or beneath his belt heading into the Rome showdown however Messi was on track to usurp his nice rival because the world’s finest participant, and his efficiency on the Stadio Olimpico went a great distance in the direction of sealing his first of six.

Regardless of pre-match discuss of Ronaldo’s aerial potential being a significant benefit he had over Messi, it was the Argentine who used his head to larger impact as Pep Guardiola‘s facet clinched Champions League glory.

A one-booted Messi produced a gravity-defying leap to ship a looping header over Edwin van der Sar and into the again of the online, sealing a 3rd Champions League title for his membership and capping one other tremendous particular person efficiency on the largest stage.

19. Barcelona 4-0 Bayern Munich (April 8, 2009)

Barcelona suffered Champions League humiliation by the hands of Bayern Munich final yr, however in 2009 it was their flip to inflict punishment on the German giants as they successfully booked their place within the semi-finals with a sport to spare.

Messi opened the scoring after solely 9 minutes by rolling the ball into the underside nook, and added an help simply three minutes later with a reverse move by way of for Samuel Eto’o to complete.

The Argentine netted his second of the sport and Barcelona’s third within the thirty eighth minute, diving in to bravely prod dwelling from shut vary.

Messi was additionally closely concerned within the buildup for the fourth objective as Barcelona put the sport past the Bavarians earlier than half time of the primary leg, remaining on track for the Champions League glory they achieved that yr.

18. Barcelona 5-0 Eibar (February 22, 2020)

The newest entry on this record, Messi’s seventh four-goal haul of his profession got here in a 5-0 rout of Eibar in February of final yr.

Messi’s first was the choose of the bunch as he skipped previous three defenders earlier than making use of a superb end, however his second and fourth objectives had been additionally tremendous solo efforts in their very own proper.

The Argentine had the run of the place as he burst previous two extra defenders and slotted dwelling for his second, clipped a unfastened ball dwelling for his hat-trick having tried to arrange Antoine Griezmann after which toyed with the Eibar goalkeeper for his fourth objective.

By this stage of his profession the supporting solid that had performed such a giant function in most of the different inclusions on this record had largely damaged up, however this sport was a agency reminder – if one was wanted – that Messi continues to set other-worldly ranges no matter who’s round him.

17. Barcelona 5-0 Atletico Madrid (September 24, 2011)

Messi has one million methods to make goalkeepers look foolish, and one in every of his favourites is to beat them at their close to put up – simply as he did to Thibaut Courtois for his sensible opening objective on this rout of Atletico Madrid early within the 2011-12 season.

That objective made it 3-0 after simply 26 minutes, with Messi having already compelled an personal objective to chalk up an help, and he went on so as to add two extra objectives within the second half for yet one more hat-trick.

The quantity 10’s second objective was arguably even higher as he pounced on a unfastened ball earlier than coasting previous a few defenders and firing dwelling by way of the legs of a 3rd, and there was one other nutmeg to finish the hat-trick as he beat Courtois from a good angle once more.

The efficiency got here only a week after scoring a hat-trick and claiming two assists towards Osasuna, providing early glimpses of what was to come back in a season which noticed him rating an unprecedented 50 objectives within the league alone.

16. Barcelona 5-2 Getafe (April 18, 2007)

Selecting out Lionel Messi’s biggest ever objective is an entire totally different rabbit gap of footballing splendour to go down however, regardless of there being so many to select from, you can be hard-pressed to search out one higher than his solo effort towards Getafe in 2007.

Messi had already begun to construct his popularity as Diego Maradona’s long-awaited worthy inheritor by this stage, and the comparisons between the diminutive duo solely grew when Messi produced a bit of genius eerily paying homage to Maradona’s ‘Aim of the Century’ towards England on the 1986 World Cup.

Certainly, the strike was voted as Barcelona’s biggest ever objective – simply one of many numerous indelible marks Messi has made on the membership.

Whereas such a second unsurprisingly stole the headlines because the standout function of the match, Messi additionally arrange the opening objective for Xavi and lashed dwelling the third – all throughout the first half.

The Argentine’s magic seemed to be sufficient to ship Barca into the Copa del Rey remaining, however with out Messi within the squad they contrived to lose the second leg of the semi-final 4-0 as Getafe pulled off a shocking comeback.

15. Barcelona 4-0 Manchester Metropolis (October 19, 2016)

Having wreaked such havoc as a Barcelona participant beneath Guardiola, Messi got here again to hang-out his former supervisor in the best way solely he can throughout this Champions League group sport in 2016.

The striker took benefit of some statuesque Man Metropolis defending to open the scoring after 17 minutes, however it was within the remaining half an hour of the sport – after Man Metropolis had been decreased to 10 males – the place he actually took issues into his personal arms.

An eight-minute brace noticed Messi full his hat-trick, earlier than profitable a penalty which Neymar subsequently noticed saved by substitute keeper Willy Caballero.

Barca wouldn’t be denied their fourth, although, with Messi teeing up Neymar once more simply two minutes later and the Brazilian this time making no mistake as their reunion with their most profitable ever boss resulted in a 4-0 triumph.

14. Actual Madrid 2-6 Barcelona (Might 2, 2009)

Stating that enjoying a starring function in a six-goal exhibiting away to Actual Madrid was one of many standout performances of Messi’s profession could also be stating the apparent, however the significance of this explicit sport goes even additional than the truth that Barcelona recorded their greatest ever win on the Bernabeu.

Deployed as a ‘false 9’ for the primary time by Guardiola, Messi assisted Barcelona’s first objective for Thierry Henry to degree the scores after 18 minutes after which went on so as to add two extra of his personal.

The primary was a poked end 10 minutes earlier than half time, whereas his second noticed him toy with Casillas earlier than beating him on the close to put up to make it 5-2.

Messi will really feel that he might and will have had extra too, lacking three very presentable probabilities and coming shut with an audacious lob along with his two objectives and one help.

Even so, he had as soon as once more made the Bernabeu his playground as Barcelona loved arguably the standout second of an unbelievable season during which they turned the primary Spanish membership to win the treble.

13. Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol (Might 5, 2012)

At all times the person for a giant event, Messi ensured that Guardiola’s remaining dwelling sport accountable for the membership – a derby towards native rivals Espanyol, no much less – was marked in appropriate fashion.

It got here on the finish of a season during which Messi particularly reached new heights, and it was his opening objective of the competition – a pinpoint 30-yard free kick – which was the choose of his 4 on the night time.

The Argentine rippled the side-netting with one other earlier than including a hat-trick within the remaining half-hour – two from the penalty spot, together with one he gained himself, and a superb effort to safe the matchball sandwiched between these spot kicks.

It was one in every of seven four-goal hauls in Messi’s profession and his third of the Guardiola period, bidding farewell to the person who bought essentially the most out of him in tremendous style.

12. Levante 0-5 Barcelona (December 16, 2018)

So far as decisive affect on a single sport is anxious, this may simply be high of the pile all through all 678 of Messi’s Barcelona appearances.

The Argentine scored three and created two extra to single-handedly tear Levante aside, straight contributing to all 5 objectives in a 5-0 hammering and setting the tone along with his unimaginable opening help for Luis Suarez 10 minutes earlier than half time.

A 17-minute hat-trick both facet of the interval then adopted, with Messi tucking the primary beneath the keeper along with his proper foot, sweeping a second into the underside nook from the sting of the field after which firing dwelling a 3rd from shut vary on the hour mark.

The maestro was not finished there, although, ending the match as he began it with a move into the trail of the marauding Gerard Pique, who capped off the rout.

11. Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United (Might 28, 2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg5XxDBFi0c

Two years on from dealing with off in a Rome Champions League remaining, Barcelona and Manchester United renewed acquaintances within the showpiece occasion at Wembley and as soon as once more it was the Spanish outfit who had been celebrating on the finish of it.

Extensively thought to be the height of Guardiola’s Barca – and lots of would argue the very best membership soccer ever seen – Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and co completely outclassed a United facet that had reached the ultimate 3 times in 4 years.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic had been among the many Man United males to hail that Barcelona staff as the very best that they had ever confronted within the wake of the sport, with Messi shining brightest in a man-of-the-match efficiency.

The ahead’s passionate celebration after his objective – a deadly low drive into the underside nook from vary – spoke volumes about how a lot the match meant to him, and he additionally performed a giant half in his facet’s third to wrap up the triumph.

10. Barcelona 8-0 Osasuna (September 17, 2011)

Messi has scored three objectives and assisted two extra in the identical sport on three separate events, and it’s a mark of his high quality that not all of these performances – which might be career-crowning achievements for some other participant – even make it onto this record.

His star exhibiting in an 8-0 obliteration of Osasuna does make the reduce, although, and his haul might have been much more spectacular, having additionally hit the within of the put up with a header and struck the crossbar with an audacious lob.

Barca ran riot all through, racing right into a 5-0 lead inside 41 minutes with Messi having a direct hand in three of these objectives – scoring twice himself and establishing Cesc Fabregas for an additional.

It was an analogous story within the second half as Messi chipped the ball by way of for Xavi to attain an excellent lob, and the Argentine fittingly put the icing on the cake himself with a trademark strike to cap off the scoring and full his hat-trick.

9. Barcelona 3-2 Actual Madrid (August 17, 2011)

The Spanish Tremendous Cup is probably not essentially the most prized trophy in Messi’s appreciable assortment, however any victory at Actual Madrid’s expense implies that bit extra and the 2011 Tremendous Cup particularly will go down as a memorable second in his profession.

Messi had already had a decisive say within the first leg on the Bernabeu, scoring as soon as and creating one other in a 2-2 draw, however he went one higher within the return fixture at Camp Nou.

The Argentine performed the ball by way of for Iniesta to open the scoring, earlier than squeezing dwelling an impudent end along with his proper foot to revive Barca’s lead simply earlier than half time.

Karim Benzema then appeared to have compelled further time with an equaliser, just for Messi to have the final giggle as soon as once more as his 88th-minute first-time volley sealed the trophy for the Catalans – one in every of 5 items of silverware Guardiola’s all-conquering facet gained that calendar yr.

8. Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool (Might 1, 2019)

Similar to objective quantity 500, objective quantity 600 got here in sensational fashion as he seemingly put Barcelona on track for an additional Champions League remaining on the expense of Liverpool in 2019.

Messi’s first of the semi-final first leg was one of many simpler objectives of his profession as he ran a unfastened ball into an empty internet after Luis Suarez had hit the crossbar, however his second seven minutes later was something however simple.

Even for a participant of Messi’s high quality, the free kick Barcelona had been awarded within the 82nd minute seemed to be too far out to go for objective, however the Argentine lined it up nonetheless.

Messi might make a powerful declare to be thought to be the very best free-kick taker in historical past too, and this effort was arguably his finest, leaving Alisson Becker no probability with a perfectly-placed stunner from 35 yards.

That made it 3-0 on the night time and appeared to all-but safe Barcelona’s place within the remaining, just for Liverpool to launch one of many biggest Champions League comebacks of all time within the second leg at Anfield.

7. Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal (April 6, 2010)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m8OS0BydgI

Arsenal have been on the mistaken finish of many a Messi masterclass, and 4 of his 9 objectives towards the Gunners got here on one mesmerising night time in April 2010.

Arsene Wenger‘s facet had taken the lead at Camp Nou earlier than Messi took the sport by the scruff of its neck, setting the tone by blasting his first into the highest nook from the sting of the field.

The second noticed him produce a cool-headed end along with his proper, whereas he introduced up the hat-trick earlier than half time with a trademark chip which he made look outrageously straightforward.

Having led the Arsenal defence a merry dance and virtually single-handedly booked Barcelona’s place within the quarter-finals following a 2-2 draw within the first leg, Messi then capped off the scoring with a drilled end to document the primary four-goal haul of his profession.

6. Actual Madrid 3-4 Barcelona (March 23, 2014)

A Clasico that had all of it: seven objectives, a Sergio Ramos purple card, three penalties and, after all, a Messi hat-trick – his second three-goal, one-assist haul in a row in La Liga.

The help got here for the opening objective of the competition after solely seven minutes as he threaded the ball by way of for Iniesta to attain, however a quickfire Karim Benzema brace turned the sport round till Messi bought his personal title on the scoresheet for the primary time shortly earlier than half time.

Madrid took the lead once more by way of Ronaldo’s penalty 10 minutes after the interval, however Messi then outshone his everlasting rival with two penalties of his personal – the second positioned completely into the highest nook.

It was the second Clasico hat-trick of Messi’s profession, and his just one on the Bernabeu, and likewise goes down as his finest return in a Clasico after he had a direct hand in all 4 of his facet’s objectives.

5. Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen (March 7, 2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qEJSIdeuDU

By way of returns in a single sport, this Champions League final 16 second leg towards Bayer Leverkusen stands alone as the very best of Messi’s unbelievable profession.

The Argentine turned the primary participant to ever rating 5 objectives in a single Champions League match, whereas it’s also the one time Messi himself has achieved that feat in a sport throughout all competitions.

He had already scored one and created one other within the first leg to place Barca accountable for the tie, however his five-star exhibiting towards Leverkusen took what would turn out to be a record-breaking yr to new heights.

Messi’s 5 objectives consisted of two outrageous lobs, two pinpoint curlers into the underside nook and an opportunistic end from a good angle, sealing a 10-2 combination triumph.

Barca would in the end fall brief in that season’s Champions League, however Messi ended 2011-12 with a ridiculous 73 objectives in 60 video games, turning into the membership’s all-time main scorer on the age of simply 24 alongside the best way.

4. Barcelona 3-3 Actual Madrid (March 10, 2007)

A defining function of Messi’s profession has been producing the products within the greatest video games, as this record showcases, and maybe the primary main glimpse of that got here when the then 19-year-old introduced himself on the Clasico scene.

The Argentine has gone on to attain extra objectives towards Actual Madrid than some other participant, and the primary three of these all got here on this match as Messi recorded his first profession hat-trick in fashion.

Madrid took the lead 3 times at Camp Nou, and on every event Messi hit again. The primary was a trademark end into the underside nook and the second an opportunistic end into the roof of the online, however he saved the very best till final.

The ahead took issues into his personal arms by dancing away from three Madrid gamers and firing the ball into the underside nook within the 91st minute, rescuing some extent which, on the time, seemed to be essential within the La Liga title race.

Finally his heroics could be in useless, with Madrid and Barca ending degree on factors on the high of the desk however Madrid profitable the title by advantage of their superior head-to-head document.

3. Actual Madrid 0-2 Barcelona (April 27, 2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX-jLdvoO1s

There has by no means been a Champions League remaining Clasico earlier than, and the closest now we have bought got here when the 2 well-known rivals confronted off within the 2010-11 semi-finals.

In a notoriously ill-tempered historical past, this was arguably the height of the Clasico rivalry, with Jose Mourinho accountable for Actual Madrid and Guardiola setting new requirements as Barcelona boss.

This semi-final first leg had already been plagued by incident earlier than Messi shocked the Bernabeu once more, with a Barcelona sub seeing purple earlier than Pepe was despatched off for the hosts.

It was Messi’s brilliance which in the end made the distinction, although; the ahead darted throughout his man on the close to put up to attain the opener after 77 minutes, earlier than producing one of many nice Champions League semi-final objectives to wrap up the competition.

With simply three minutes of regular time remaining, Messi collected the ball 40 yards from objective earlier than turning on the fuel to go away 4 Actual Madrid defenders in his wake and sliding the ball previous Iker Casillas.

2. Actual Madrid 2-3 Barcelona (April 23, 2017)

There might have been no extra becoming manner for Messi to carry up his five hundredth Barcelona objective than a stoppage-time winner in a Clasico towards Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu.

The six-time Ballon d’Or winner celebrated his milestone objective in iconic style, elevating his shirt up in entrance of a begrudgingly bedazzled Bernabeu crowd having as soon as once more haunted his membership’s biggest rivals.

It capped an eventful sport for Messi, who had earlier been left bloodied and bruised by a Marcelo elbow to the face, and was additionally on the top of a two-footed Sergio Ramos problem which noticed the Madrid stalwart despatched off.

As is so typically the case, Messi’s headline-grabbing heroics weren’t his solitary contribution to the sport both, having already scored an excellent particular person effort to degree the scores within the first half.

On the time, the win appeared to have stored Barcelona’s title hopes alive, though they went on to complete three factors adrift of their nice rivals.

1. Barcelona 3-0 Bayern Munich (Might 6, 2015)

Messi’s profession is plagued by unforgettable moments which go away onlookers with no possibility however to easily sit again and admire, and one of the vital notable of these was his second objective within the 2014-15 Champions League semi-final first leg towards Bayern Munich.

The ahead skipped previous Jerome Boateng with embarrassing ease, leaving the overwhelmed defender on the ground in his wake, earlier than making a mockery of one of many biggest goalkeepers in historical past by lifting the ball over Manuel Neuer along with his ‘weaker’ proper foot.

That iconic solo objective would have been adequate in isolation, however it was simply one of many decisive impacts made by Messi throughout a virtuoso 25-minute interval which noticed him rating twice and help one other.

The Argentine fired a strong low strike previous Neuer at his close to put up within the 77th minute, produced his standout second of magic simply three minutes after that after which despatched Neymar by way of to cap off the scoring 4 minutes into added time.

Barcelona went on to lose the second leg 3-2 in Germany, however progressed to the ultimate on combination after which beat Juventus to win the trophy.

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