On his birthday, GOAL takes a look at the Argentina star's best moments in El Clasico 🎂
Lionel Messi loved El Clasico and holds the record for most goals in games between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner's first appearance in the Clasico cauldron came back in 2005 and he lit up the derby games until his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Given their volume, it is difficult to choose which of his Clasico games are the most memorable, but GOAL takes a look at the games where Messi was king…
Check out even more magic Messi moments!
Lionel Messi's greatest goals of all timeRemembering Messi's best games for ArgentinaGetty10Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, December 2017
Having lost the 2017 Supercopa to Real Madrid, Barcelona recovered to strike a revenge blow in their first Liga meeting of 2017-18.
Messi scored from the penalty spot to put Barca 2-0 up in the capital before providing a clever cut-back cross for Aleix Vidal to make the final score 3-0.
It was a comparatively subdued performance from the Argentine, but he still had a hand in two goals.
AdvertisementGetty9Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona, August 2012
Despite losing the 2012-13 Spanish Supercopa to Real Madrid, Messi nevertheless was on form, contributing goals in both legs of the decider.
Barca won the first leg 3-2, with Messi scoring from the penalty spot, but they were undone in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, the second leg saw Messi's most memorable contribution in the form of a free kick, which he curled into the left corner to give Barca hope.
Unfortunately for Messi and Co. though the game ended 2-1 and Real won thanks to the away goals rule.
Getty8Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, October 2012
The 2-2 game between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou in the 2012-13 season was a memorable battle, which saw Messi score an outrageous 30-yard free kick.
Messi scored both of Barca's goals – the first being a predatory follow-up finish inside the box and the second from a set-piece, which left Iker Casillas grasping desperately at air.
The game was something of a symbolic stand-off between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored Real's two goals.
Getty7Real Madrid 3-4 Barcelona, March 2014
The 2013-14 season wasn't particularly special for Barcelona, whose only silverware that season came in the form of the Spanish Supercopa, or Messi, whose goal tally dipped significantly by his high standards.
However, one of the season's high points was undoubtedly Messi's virtuoso display in El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he scored a hat-trick and set up Andres Iniesta in a 4-3 victory.
The Argentine showed ice-cool composure to score the winning goal from the penalty spot with just over five minutes left on the clock.
Barca finished the season runners-up in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid and they secured second place ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference thanks to a single goal – meaning their Clasico triumph was ultimately crucial.