'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQf/2gAIAQEAAAAAh5H/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAhEAABAwQBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUhMRESZIGS0f/aAAgBAQABPwCRbHbXFOK+1CdOSWV6CXhBzgtjvzSwD7f1X7X/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREi/9oACAECAQE/ALlH/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACIf/aAAgBAwEBPwBqZP/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lionel Messi has scored some great goals in his stellar career. The Argentine has also broken many scoring records for both club and country. If he were to retire today, he would bow out as a legend having guided Barcelona to clinching virtually all major trophies in world football. The five-time World Player of the Year has shared an intense rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo in the course of the last 10 years.
There have been numerous comparisons and debates over who of the two is the better player. While Ronaldo has earned his right to be among the football greats through sheer hard work and training, it has been widely viewed that Messi's output is a result of natural talent. It is therefore that these five Messi goals out of over 600 in his career deserves praise even from his long-term rival, Ronaldo.
#5 Stoppage time winner v Iran (2014)
Trending
Argentina went into the 2014 World Cup as favourites but struggled to breakdown relatively easy opposition in Group F. They were grouped with Bosnia, Nigeria and minnows Iran. Against Iran in June 2014, it was expected that Argentina would sweep aside the Asian side with relative ease. That was not the case despite enjoying a whopping 74% ball possession and 21 shots at goal.
Messi came to rescue Argentina's blushes deep into stoppage time with a sublime goal. In the 91st minute, Messi received the ball from Ezequiel Lavezzi and curled in an unstoppable shot from outside the box that beat Alireza Haghighi in goal. This dramatic last minute winner sealed their qualification to the round of 16.
#4 Destroying Arsenal (2010)
On April 6, 2010, Messi scored a first half hat-trick as Barcelona demolished Arsenal 4-1 in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16 played at Camp Nou. Messi was on target in the 27th, 37th, 42nd and 88th minute in a four-goal show. Arsenal had taken a surprise lead through Nicklas Bendtner in the 18th minute before it became a Messi affair.
It was his goal three minutes to the break that would get any footballer ripe with envy. Seydou Keita headed a through ball to his path and he ran at the heart of the Arsenal defence before calmly lifting the ball past Manuel Alimunia who had rushed off his line. Arsenal simply had no solution to stopping him on the night
#3 Barcelona 3 Bayern Munich 0 (2015)
Barcelona hosted Bayern Munich on May 6, 2015 at Camp Nou. Again, it was Messi who produced the goods after facing a stubborn defence set up by the German side. He opened the scoring from the edge of the penalty area with a low shot in the 77th minute. His second goal was a thing of beauty three minutes later.
He turned centre back Jerome Boateng inside out in the box, left him for dead before hitting a clever dink past the big frame of Manuel Neuer in goal. What made it even more special is that he managed to finish with his weaker right foot from such an angle. Neymar rounded up the scoring in injury time.
#2 UCL Final v Manchester United (2009)
The stage was set on May 27, 2009, for the final at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. Messi was named man of the match in this one after a clinical performance. United dominated the opening minutes but it was the Catalans who took the lead in the 10th minute through Samuel Eto'o who toe-poked the ball past Edwin van der Sar.
In the 74th minute, United had committed players forward in search of an equaliser and became vulnerable at the back. Carlos Puyol made a timely interception and pushed the ball forward. Xavi expertly crossed the ball for Messi to score with a looping header past the 6 ft 6 in Dutch goalkeeper. What was impressive is Messi had to take a step back and alleviate his jump given his mere 5 ft 6 frame.
#1 Wonder goal v Getafe (2007)
Messi scored one of his finest ever goals on April 18, 2007, in the Spanish Cup semi-final against Getafe. He initiated his trademark run from the halfway line, dribbled past five players and danced his way past goalkeeper Oscar Ustari before scoring. This moment set the whole Camp Nou alight.
Messi's goal was likened to fellow Argentine Diego Maradona's effort against England in the 1986 World Cup. Barcelona won the match 5-2 with Messi scoring a goal that would be an epitome of his talent.
