5 greatest Lionel Messi performances in the UEFA Champions League

#4 Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen, 2012 Round of 16

Messi scored five times in a single game against Bayer Leverkusen

2012 was a record-breaking year for Messi, as he ended the year with an astonishing 91 goals from 69 games for club and country. Barcelona rode his brilliance and the opposition felt his wrath as the Argentine brushed aside records at will. Bayer Leverkusen were in the line of fire in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg at the Nou Camp, as Messi gave the Bundesliga side a night they, and the rest of the world, would not forget in a hurry.

The Catalans had a 3-1 lead from the first leg, but Pep Guardiola, the then-Barcelona manager was not one to rest on his laurels. He sent his team out with clear instructions to be ruthless and even though the team were not at its free-flowing best in the first half, Messi was on top form. The Argentine gave his team the lead with a trademark left-footed lob after he was sent free on goal by Xavi. He then went on a mazy run to double the score as Barcelona went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Messi kick-started a 13-minute frenzy where the home side scored four times. Messi completed his hat-trick with a right-footed lob before substitute Cristian Tello scored Barcelona’s fourth goal of the night. The Spaniard turned provider for Messi's fifth of the game and then went on to score his second of the night. Messi rounded up his night with a fantastic 20-yard curler to score his fifth, becoming the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game.