Ranking Lionel Messi's 10 favourite opponents in the UEFA Champions League

#6 Ajax - 6 goals

FC Barcelona vs AFC Ajax - UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi loves scoring against Ajax. Period. The Argentine has scored at least once in each of his three meetings against the Eredivisie giants in the Champions League.

In his first meeting against the three-time winners in a 2013-14 group game, Messi scored a hat-trick at Camp Nou. A year later, he scored in both group games, one strike at Camp Nou and a brace in Amsterdam.

That season, Barcelona went on to win their second continental treble and fifth Champions League.

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#5 Manchester City - 7 goals

Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Manchester City are one of five teams against whom Lionel Messi has scored at least seven Champions League goals.

In his first meeting with the Premier League giants in 2013-14, the Argentinian scored in both legs of Barcelona's 4-1 Round of 16 win. A year later, he drew blanks at the same stage of the competition against the same opponents. However, Blaugrana went through 3-1 on aggregate.

Only a few months later, Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat City 4-0 in a group game. He also scored in the reverse fixture, which Blaugrana lost 3-1 at the Etihad.

Five years later, the PSG attacker opened his account for his new side by scoring for the seventh time against Manchester City.

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#4 Bayer Leverkusen - 7 goals

FC Barcelona vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen - UEFA Champions League Round of 16

Lionel Messi scored in his first game against Bayer Leverkusen in 2011-12, which Barcelona won 3-1 to lead their Round of 16 tie. A few days later against the same opponent, Messi created history in the competition.

The Argentinian became the first player in Champions League history to score five goals in a game. Barcelona won 7-1 on the night and 10-2 on aggregate.

Three years later, Messi was at it again, scoring in Barcelona's 1-1 draw in a group game in 2015-16.