Lionel Messi to some is the greatest soccer player of all time, and it’s hard to deny that fact. Messi has scored 672 goals in 778 appearances at Barcelona. He is the leading goal scorer of the Argentine National team, at the time of this writing, he has scored 73 goals.
Mesmerizing with his quick speed and dribbling capability, the small man from Rosario continued to improve his game as his career progressed. At first Messi was a bolt of lightning, as time passed, he has learned when to pick his spots, and now can be considered a free kick specialist.
Messi has won 34, 34! championships with Barcelona and one Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2008. While Messi is trying to win his first, and most likely, only World Cup, and Copa America, “Lio” is an icon of the World’s game. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the faces of soccer at a global level and will be missed when they hang up their boots. Here are 10 of Lionel Messi’s top moments of a brilliant career.
10. Coming out party hat-trick against Real Madrid 2007
Rumblings of just how good Messi was were put to rest in 2007 when the teenage superstar shocked the world by wiping the floor with Real Madrid. In an electric 3-3 match the young and lanky Messi scored twice to answer 2 go ahead goals by Madrid in the first half. When Real Madrid scored number 3, it took an uncontrollable Messi to tie the match in injury time and put the 19-year-old Messi on the map as a world talent of the highest level.
9. Olympic Gold 2008
Lionel Messi won his only major championship with Argentina with the U-23 side that claimed the gold medal in the summer games in Beijing, China defeating Nigeria 1-0 in a hard-fought final. The Argentine team had players of the caliber of Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Juan Román Riquelme, Sergio Aguero, and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
8. First Ballon d’Or 2009
Barcelona was fresh of a treble, winning the league, Champions League, and domestic cup. Messi scored 38 goals and was on the cusp of scoring 50 two years later. The Argentine would win the Ballon d’Or five more times.
7. Messi scored 91 goals in a calendar year 2012
Messi seemed to be scoring at will in 2012, his career was skyrocketing, even doing interviews for American news show 60 minutes. The World was at his feet, in 2012 he would score 91 goals in a calendar year. It set a world record, overtaking Gert Müller, who scored 85.
6. First World Cup goal in 2006
There is always a beginning and in 2006 Lionel Messi played in his first ever World Cup for Argentina. Messi’s first goal came as a substitute against Serbia and Montenegro. Messi would score the final goal of a 6-0 bashing, where it was an Argentine soccer show for 90 min. Messi and Argentina would be knocked out of the tournament by host Germany in the quarterfinals.
5. Heading home the Champions League in 2009
Barcelona - Manchester United for the Champions League Final in Rome had the extra condiment of it being a Messi - Ronaldo showdown. Barcelona proved why they were the best team in the World with a 2-0 victory and a Messi goal with his head to seal the deal. Messi is only five foot seven!
4. Free kick beauty to make him Argentina’s all-time leading scorer 2016
In the 2016 Copa America held in the United States, the host had the task of trying to stop a stacked Argentina squad. The USA was woefully overmatched, and despite holding the fort being down 0-1, a 30th minute free kick was given, and Messi took it for all it was worth. GOAL! And Messi became the nation’s all-time leading scorer with 55 surpassing the great Gabriel Batistuta.
3. La Liga’s all-time leading scorer
Every time Messi scores a goal, it is historic at Barcelona. As of now, Messi is the Spanish La Liga’s all-time leading scorer at 474, his closest competitor is Karim Benzema at a distant 192.
2. Only player to win Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player, Pichichi scoring title, and Golden Boot
In 2009/2010 there was no question Messi was the World’s best player, he didn’t have to prove it to anyone… although he did… The Argentine won all four of these awards on a personal campaign where he would record 47 goals in 53 games.
1. Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi’s career has been a human highlight reel, something out of PlayStation. Picking 10 moments does not do him justice, in fact maybe picking 50 moments does not do him justice. Messi has won 34 club titles, 1 National team honor, and 8 Spanish La Liga scoring titles. Among other accolades. Messi’s biggest moment belongs to each fan who has been mesmerized by the Argentine since he came on to the scene in 2004.
