In addition to claiming more defensive ankles than Ballons d’Or and regularly defying science with the magician he produces on the field, Lionel Messi likes a goal.
Most La Liga goals and the record for most goals in a calendar year, the Argentine is nothing but enchanting when he steps out on the field. And while we all keep an eye on him in Barcelona, his Argentine achievements are not – or appreciated – as much monitored.
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Messi is ninth in the list of international top scorers of all time. Here are 30 of his best for Argentina.
A young Lionel Messi still threatened Argentina / Mark Dadswell / Getty Images
A young Messi was fearless in an international friendly to grab the stay and Argentina’s fourth at night.
One-two, receives the ball into the box and drops a small false shot before hitting past the goalkeeper. Subtle genius.
He knows you were cute / Amilcar Orfali / Getty Images
Textbook Messi – albeit rocking pale blonde hair – riot over Colombia in World Cup qualifiers.
Messi opened the scoring in the highest style and hit a fairly central free kick in the upper corner, leaving the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance. Like, do not even bother to dive.
Two defenders are not enough to stop his influence / Boris Streubel / Getty Images
Seeing a penalty saved after half an hour was not enough to deter Messi when Argentina appeared and tore down Germany in 2012.
Stalking the edge of the box, Messi comes at the end of an inevitable cut and rifles it tightly into the bottom corner for an evil finish that gave Argentina its second of the night. Powerful.
Defender has no chance / Marcelo Endelli / Getty Images
The way in which Messi opened the scoring against Nicaragua in 2019 was cross-border illegal. Disgusting skill.
In a branded way, the little guide picks up the ball and cuts in and sends his entire back line for a sausage with tricks before he hits the ball low down in the corner.
Routine for him at this time / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
Oh look, a hat trick. So surprising.
The goal that ensured Messi the match ball was vintage and still just as confusing. The ball sticks to the man’s feet as he takes a defender out of the game with his first touch, before knocking home for his third.
Messi was a nuisance / AFP / Getty Images
Sure, it was a friendly one and yes it was from the penalty spot, but it still takes some steel to rip home a winner from 12 meters.
Steel for most, easy work for Messi. He brushed the ball late to secure a victory for Argentina.
The last thing a defender wants to see is Messi with space / Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Another connecting goal when the drug man comes to save a goal for his side in a friendly match against Mexico to avoid genes.
Messi sees a long ball come over the shoulder and picks it up from the air, before he volleys it through the goalkeeper’s legs before it can even come down for a touch. Comeback complete, ridiculous goal.
Keeper knows he’s done / Scott Halleran / Getty Images
The injuries occurred already when Argentina had put together a 4-0 lead without Messi even scoring a goal. But that does not mean he does not get into the fun.
After starting on the bench, Messi came in and went home his first almost immediately before hitting his second in style. By running through the lines and killing a breakthrough ball, his touch leaves the goalkeeper stranded and Messi can play into an empty net. Easy.
No chance, boys. No Chance / Victor Fraile / Getty Images
Messi had to wait to get hold of Hong Kong in 2014, but made his presence known when he came off the bench.
Once upon a time, his first goal of two was a combination of licking, a pressure that passed, ending with a subtle wink over a helpless goalkeeper. Have mercy, Lionel.
Lots of defenders have been in this position / Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
Scored twice, set the other. A dominant performance from the man who at the same time divided Europe for Barcelona the same year.
Of the goal with the contribution, however, it was a cheeky free kick that Messi hit against Uruguay that catches the eye. Away from his usual curved technique, Messi placed it low and snuck it under the wall to score.
Messi rocked the Phil Foden hairstyle / Gabriel Rossi / Getty Images
Another year, another Messi achievement that pulls Argentina to victory over Uruguay.
A much closer game, the difference was of course the drug man. After reversing his decision to retire from international football after retiring months earlier, Messi was back for good with an important goal of winning a World Cup qualifier for his country.
Mr. Whippy / LatinContent / Getty Images
In his record-breaking 2012 that saw him score 91 goals for Barcelona and Argentina, one of them was a well-placed free kick in a 3-1 victory against Paraguay.
Messi’s curly technique should not work anymore, but he finds a way to make it look just as simple. Enchanting and left Paraguay helpless.
Messi was unplayable / AFP / Getty Images
A hat trick for the man who belongs in the Louvre.
The choice of the gang when Argentina beat Brazil in New York was his second goal, rounded the goalkeeper and sent fans into frenzy. Brazil could have scored 20 goals that day and not won; Messi was in the mood for hunting.
Messi goes through / Jeff Gross / Getty Images
It took Messi just three minutes to ruin the match against Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup. Cheers, Lionel.
A rather unusual finish for the magic man, he was first on a rebound in the box and fired it into the net roof for an early lead. Bonus points for a real poachers finish.
Messi ran riot / Power Sport Images / Getty Images
There was something in his grain before this match.
As six goals were not enough, Messi added a seventh in the 84th minute with a ridiculous solo run and slipped past players as if he were on a different wavelength. Oh yes, probably because he definitely is.
Defender left for dead / FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images
Another day in 2012, another Messi trick. This time, the Swiss felt the emphasis of his genius, especially in the opener.
With a connection to Sergio Aguero, Messi took back the ball and fired a low in the far corner from distance. Laser-guided accuracy and a moment of the highest quality in an instant.
Messi ripped up club mates / AFP / Getty Images
On the back of becoming one of the most impressive World Cup winning sides ever, in the middle of what would be two victories in the euro, Lionel Messi took Spain down to earth again.
The Argentine humiliated La Roja and showed them what real magic it was in a friendly match, bowled out without excuses and thought one over Pepe Reina in goal. Anyone sauce with that chip?
Messi ballad out / Michael Steele / Getty Images
A real brand Messi goal, against one of the strongest sides in world football.
Picking up the ball in a tight area far from goal, defender leaves the bambozled and shoots it past Steve Mandanda from an unlikely angle to double Argentina’s lead. Lionel Messi effects.
The first of many / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / Getty Images
Even when he is on the losing side, it is impossible to get bored watching Messi weave through players as if they are lifeless objects.
His first goal for La Albiceleste was what would become vintage. He picks up the ball from a defensive error, moves it to the left in an instant and makes it rattle over the net before Croatia could realize. This baby looks good.
Messi weaves through challenges / ALFREDO ESTRELLA / Getty Images
While Messi’s fearlessness has by no means evaporated as he gets older, there is only something about watching him in his early years and receiving players.
In a 2-1 defeat against Colombia, he opened the scoring after moving in from the left and seamlessly cutting through a Colombian defense that otherwise seemed watertight. No one else would have found the angles he made.
Inevitable / Paul Gilham / Getty Images
Seeing Messi caress a ball from a free kick takes place in slow motion.
He hits it with such grace, yet such a deadly whip is always present to make a goal effort extremely difficult for a goalkeeper. He pulled a ridiculous effort out of the bag against Nigeria at the 2014 World Cup and bent one straight into the top bins.
Captain / FABRICE COFFRINI / Getty Images
We have had the opener, but Messi’s second was the choice of the gang in a cool show against Switzerland in 2012.
To get the lead back for his side, Messi weaved beyond their entire back line and left the goalkeeper helpless as he swirled the ball over his head. Sore ankles and confused faces all around. Stop.
Thanks for coming, men / Hector Vivas / Getty Images
Another post, another Messi hat trick of disgusting finish.
To really put the game in bed and take home the match ball, Messi moved on his left foot, got close to the goal and floated the ball in the upper corner. No force is needed, just an obscene backlift that was enough to confuse the goalkeeper and polish into the net.
Long-haired Messi was a threat / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA / Getty Images
We’ve had subtle dinks and a lot of FIFA-esque dinks from Messi, but this one against Mexico 2007 is just unfaithful.
Picks up the ball unmarked and instead of trying to blow himself up in space and go one on one with the goalkeeper, he swings the ball well in the air, over the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the goal. Still confused by looking at it. He is superhuman.
Vintage / EMMANUEL DUNAND / Getty Images
Dinks are cool, slaloming runs are better. But put one of these runs together with a rocket shot that hit the top corner to win the goal, and you will struggle to find something more satisfying.
After conceding another hat trick in style, Messi secured a late victory for Argentina in New York as he went beyond Brazil’s defense and sent the ball into the top corner without remorse. Stunning finish.
Messi bags hate tricks for fun / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
Just be glad we did not suggest a Lionel Messi hat trick.
Another trio in 2016, another free kick. Messi came off the bench and crossed to his hat trick with a piece that kissed the back of the net and lined it with gold, leaving the fans surprised and La Albiceleste on their way into the Copa America knockout stages. He does not even need a full game.
Iconic / KARIM JAAFAR / Getty Images
A friendly match between two of football’s most appreciated sides seemed to be over. Until the Barcelona man pulled some magic out of his hat.
With a yard or two to run into, Messi turned it into magic and left Brazil’s last two defenders stumbling over themselves as he flashed to the left and fired straight into the far corner with exact accuracy, deep in stoppage time. From absolutely nothing.
Easy / Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
If you could describe a typical Messi goal for a stranger, this is it.
Starts the move on the halfway line, flashes past the midfield and uses Gonzalo Higuain as a backboard, before running through Bosnia’s finish line and shooting home to give Argentina his second. You know it’s coming and yet you can not stop it.
The last gas spinners are not for everyone / Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Messi really made the connection at the 2014 World Cup.
With Argentina waiting for a disappointing draw against Iran in the group stage, it was the doctor to show up at death and shoot the ball from a secular angle beyond everyone and into the back of the net. Minutes left. Ice in his veins. 100 defenders would not have stopped it.
An angle that says it all / Bob Levey / Getty Images
The semi-final of the Copa America, the perfect place for Messi to take center stage as Argentina’s record shooter.
Did he do that? Do not bother to ask. Not only did he do it, he did it by hitting the ball over a wall and into the far corner from a free kick. The menacing curler who proves impossible to stop again. The man is a genius.
