Lionel Messi has enjoyed a career packed with highlights.
We’ve no doubt, though, that among his most satisfying memories must be his 92nd-minute El Clasico winner in April 2017, which left Real Madrid players on their knees and stunned the Bernabeu into silence.
It was Messi’s 500th goal for Barcelona – and it came at the ideal time for La Blaugrana.
Barca were in the midst of a fiercely contested title race with Real heading towards the climax of the 2016/17 season, requiring all three points in the Spanish capital to keep the heat on their arch rivals.
Buy your Messi GOAT t-shirt
As the match entered two minutes of stoppage time, however, the score was locked at 2-2.
Barcelona needed a late piece of magic. They got it in some style, courtesy of their star man.
With just seconds remaining, the visitors broke at pace through Sergi Roberto, who then found Jordi Alba on the left flank.
Messi couldn’t have wished to meet Alba’s ball into the box any better, sweeping into the net from 16 yards out to give Barca the most unlikely of victories. In truth, it was like something out of a movie script.
Having just scored one of the most important goals of his life, Messi then proceeded to bust out the perfect celebration for the occasion.
The iconic image of Messi hoisting his shirt aloft in front of the Los Blancos faithful seconds after breaking their collective hearts will live long in footballing folklore.
For as many legendary moments as the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed throughout his time in the game, this particular night will always rank among the Argentine’s greatest.
The impact of Messi’s last-gasp goal was felt far beyond the confines of the Bernabeu, with pictures of the match being beamed to millions
Read more on givemesport.com
givemesport.com