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Lionel Messi has undoubtedly been one of the standout performers of the decade.
The diminutive Argentinian took the all-time LaLiga scoring lead in 2014, before becoming the first player to win 8 Liga titles following Barcelona's triumph in the 2018-19 Spanish top-flight season. In the process, Messi tied Telmo Zarra's mark of most Pichichi awards (6 apiece).
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With 50 goals for club and country during the decade, Messi scored a half century of goals in a calendar year for the 9th time in 10 years as he took the 2019-20 Liga lead before the winter break.
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The year also saw Messi break new ground in the Liga and in the Champions League, as he became the first player to score in 16 and 15 consecutive seasons respectively in the two tournaments. In the latter one, Messi broke a tie with Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo by becoming the first player to score against 34 different opponent teams in the competition.
As the 2010s decade draws to a close, let us have a look at 10 of Messi's most iconic performances for club and country during this period.
#1 Champions League 2019-10 quarterfinal second leg: Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal
Following a 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of the 2009-10 Champions League quarter-finals, Barcelona knew they had to score in the return leg at home in order to continue their European ambitions for the season.
Score Barca did, and in some style too. Enter Lionel Messi.
After Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring for the visitors, Messi took over at the Camp Nou. The Argentinian hauled Barca back into the tie three minutes later. A fine team goal from the Blaugrana was finished off by Messi, and 21 minutes after his opener Messi completed his first Champions League hat-trick.
With Barca easing off in the second half, Messi scored his fourth of the night two minutes from time to put the icing on a shining performance.
#2 LaLiga 2011-12: Barcelona 5-1 Valencia
Having scored 5 hat-tricks in club football during the season (4 in the Liga, 1 in the Champions League), Messi was in prime form on Matchday 24 of the 2011-12 Liga season when Barcelona played host to Valencia.
Needing a win to stay in touch with league leaders and eventual winners Real Madrid, Barca were reeled early when Pablo Piatti provided the visitors an early lead. But it was only the precursor for Messi to make his presence felt in the game.
Two goals in the space of four minutes gave Barcelona a lead midway through the first half which they never relinquished. Messi completed his hat-trick in the second half, and a fourth nine minutes later meant that the Argentinian celebrated his 200th Liga game for Barcelona with his first Liga quadruple.
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20
#3 Champions League 2011-12 Round of 16 second leg: Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen
With Barcelona having won the Round of 16 first leg game in the 2011-12 Champions League away at Leverkusen, it was always going to be an uphill task for the Bundesliga outfit in the return leg at the Camp Nou. And so it proved.
Messi opened the scoring for the hosts midway through the first half. He scored his second of the game before the break as Barcelona took a commanding 2-0 lead on the night and a 5-1 lead on aggregate.
Far from easing off, Messi converted a pair of Cesc Fabregas assists to complete his second Champions League quadruple at the hour mark. Five minutes from time, Messi became the first player in history to score 5 goals in a Champions League game as Barcelona recorded the most lopsided Round of 16 aggregate win (10-2) in the history of the competition.
#4 2012 International Friendly: Argentina 4-3 Brazil
Although the game being a friendly meant that the stakes were low for both South American giants, nothing can be taken away from Messi's performance that day.
After Romulo had opened the scoring for Brazil at the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, Messi restored parity at the half-hour mark. And three minutes later, he provided Argentina the lead for the first time in the match.
Brazil fought back through respective second-half goals from Oscar and Hulk to reclaim the lead, but it was Messi and Argentina who had the last laugh. Federico Fernandez hauled the Albiceleste back into the game and five minutes from time, Messi's first hat-trick for Argentina resulted in a win for the two-time World Cup champions.
#5 LaLiga 2011-12: Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol
In Pep Guardiola's final home match in charge of the Blaugrana, Messi made it a night to remember.
The diminutive Argentinian opened the scoring with a direct free-kick 10 minutes into the game. At the hour mark, Messi doubled his and Barcelona's goal tally by converting a spot-kick.
Messi converted an assist by Adriano to complete his 10th hat-trick of the season for Barcelona. His second successful penalty of the game meant that the Argentina international became the first player in the Big 5 leagues to score a staggering 50 goals in a season.
Messi went on to produce one of the best ever seasons in European club football by scoring 73 goals in all competitions.
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#6 LaLiga 2012-13: Barcelona 5-1 Osasuna
A rare right-footed goal from Messi opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 2012-13 Liga game at home to Osasuna. It was the 12th consecutive game Messi had scored in, and brought up 30 goals in all competitions.
Following Raoul Lee's equalizer for the visitors, Messi scored either side of a Pedro Rodriguez goal to complete his hat-trick.
Another goal at the hour-mark hauled in the 200th Liga goal of his career as Messi recorded his 3rd domestic quadruple.
#7 LaLiga 2013-14: Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona
Defending champions Barcelona traveled to the Bernabeu to face a side unbeaten in 31 home games in all competitions - which included a 17-game winning run. But both streaks were to come to a close at the end of the game.
After Andres Iniesta's opener for the visitors, Messi's first of the game cancelled out Karim Benzema's quickfire double. The teams headed to the break at two goals apiece.
Cristiano Ronaldo restored Madrid's lead from the spot early into the second period but Messi's successful spot-kick on the hour mark once again brought the visitors on level terms. Sergio Ramos' 73rd minute red card changed things, and allowed Barcelona to press for all three points.
The Blaugrana did exactly that when a foul on Iniesta inside the Madrid box allowed Messi to convert his second spot-kick of the game - which also proved to be the final denouement of a seven-goal back-and-forth thriller. It was Messi's second consecutive hat-trick in a Liga game, having netted three against Osasuna, and the diminutive Argentinian moved into sole second place in the all-time Liga scoring charts.
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#8 LaLiga 2017-18: Barcelona 6-1 Eibar
Messi's successful spot-kick opened the scoring for Barcelona midway through the first half in the 2017-18 Liga home game against Eibar.
Following further goals from Paulinho and Denis Suarez, and Eibar's sole reply courtesy Sergi Enrich, Messi restored Barca's three-goal cushion on the cusp of the hour mark.
An assist from Paulinho allowed Messi to register his second Liga hat-trick of the season. Three minutes from time, Messi completed his 4th Liga quadruple as Barcelona eased to a comfortable 6-1 win.
In the process, the Argentina captain registered his 300th home goal in all competitions for the Catalan club.
#9 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification: Ecuador 1-3 Argentina
Argentina traveled to Ecuador on the final Matchday of the 2018 FIFA World Cup CONMEBOL qualifiers, needing a win to seal qualification for the quadrennial tournament. Following an inconsistent qualifying campaign, the Albiceleste knew that any further slip-up could cost them a ticket to the World Cup.
Romario Ibara's opener in the first minute of the game set the cat among the pigeons. But Messi calmed Argentine nerves by slotting in his 5th goal of the qualifying campaign to restore parity for the visitors.
Eight minutes later Messi put Argentina into the lead. And at the hour mark, Messi converted an Enzo Perez pass to register his second competitive hat-trick for the Albiceleste (5th overall).
Argentina hung on for a 3-1 win to seal their place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
#10 LaLiga 2019-20: Barcelona 5-2 Mallorca
Days after winning a record 6th Ballon d'Or award, Messi hoisted aloft the award in front of an adoring Camp Nou faithful before strutting out his usual fare out on the pitch.
A double from Messi after Antoine Greizmann's opener helped Barcelona open up a comfortable 3-1 lead in their home game against Mallorca in the 2019-20 Liga season.
After Ante Budimir reduced the arrears to 2-4 for the away side, Messi took the outright lead for most Liga hat-tricks when he slotted in his third of the night seven minutes from time, to complete his record 35th three (or more)-goal haul in the Spanish top-flight.
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