30 of Lionel Messi's Best Goals for Barcelona and Argentina

Lionel Messi: For some, the greatest footballer on the planet. For others, the greatest there has maybe ever been.

The Barcelona and Argentina forward makes scoring goals his personal mission, winning titles as he goes and shattering records most seasons. His latest milestone is another significant one: 400 goals for the No. 10, for club and country.

His strike against Granada, which helped Barcelona to a 4-0 lead in their romp over the Andalucian side, was his 358th for his club, adding to his 42 international strikes.

Picking and ordering his very best would be such a subjective and gargantuan task as to likely never finish in agreement with everybody—but we've picked 30 special ones for you to enjoy again nonetheless. Enjoy.

Hat-Trick Strike vs. Brazil

We'll start with a few of Messi's strikes at international level, and what better place than in an Argentina vs. Brazil game?

This dribble and thunderous finish from range sealed a hat-trick for himself and a 4-3 win for his side, a fairly late winner in one of the biggest grudge matches on the international stage.

Free Kick vs. Paraguay

Messi is well-known for scoring a variety of impressive free-kicks and though we're not going to include too many of them here, a selection of the very best are worth watching all the same.

This one came for Argentina against Paraguay, a dramatic strike from distance which gave the keeper no chance. Who said he can't score from outside the box? This is a 30-yarder with precision and power.

Last-Minute World Cup Winner vs. Iran

Messi couldn't quite take his side the distance in the 2014 World Cup, but there's no doubt he dragged Argentina through the group stages and into the knock-outs with his goals and creativity.

This last-minute winner sealed a 1-0 win over Iran, who had defended heroically and relentlessly against everything the South Americans had thrown at them until that point.

But, Messi.

Dink over Depor

Onto Barcelona goals now and this is one of Messi's greats.

Most of all, it displays all the great composure and technique for which he is admired around the globe, but his acceleration, dribbling and link play are also well worth noting here. Deportivo La Coruna were the unlucky opponents to face him this time.

Messi's Defining Goal?

This was the goal which, early on in Messi's career, earned the most realistic, reasonable comparisons with Diego Maradona.

Messi received the ball against Getafe around the halfway line, beat no less than six players including the goalkeeper, and finished the ball past another player on the line with his weaker foot.

He was 19 years old when he scored this one.

Messi over Milan, Pt.1

AC Milan must hate facing Lionel Messi; he seems to score against them every time he faces them.

This one came in a Champions League knockout tie, a terrific take and finish into the top corner with barely a pause to look up and assess where the goalkeeper, or even the goal frame itself, were.

Messi over Milan, Pt.2

Milan again, and a Champions League group stage game this time.

Messi had already scored from the penalty spot when he suddenly turned on the afterburners, exchanged passes with Cesc Fabregas and left three defenders for dead before burying a high strike into the roof of the net.

Start the video at 3:10 for the buildup to this goal.

Beating Bilbao

Free kicks, cool finishes and any other kind of goal are all well and good, but what Messi is most revered for are his dribbling, individual slalom efforts.

This astonishing goal against Bilbao displayed the best of both worlds, beating three defenders in close quarters and finding the unerring finish needed to cap the move off.

Taking on Deportivo Again

Here Messi gets to show his balance and strength, holding off a defender as he turns away, before streaking off toward goal to find another fine finish.

Deportivo were once more in his firing line for this one, a run and finish matched for its eye-catching visuals only by Barcelona's colourful kit.

Malaga Magic

Three-for-one for you here; the actual strike in question is the third, the hat-trick yielding dribble and strike, but it's a short video and it's another Messi hat-trick—so enjoy it three times as much.

The final goal displayed the quick feet, acceleration and close control we associate with Messi so much, with his unflappable composure at the end to notch the treble. 

Outward Curling Free-Kick vs. Atleti

Many free-kick goals are impressive, but we usually see inswinging, curling efforts beating the wall and keeper with power or swerve.

This effort from Messi was the opposite; an outswinging curled effort which sailed over the head of the keeper and right into the far top corner. Ten minutes left, no problem.

GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL GOL

Sometimes, commentators can have it easy: just let what's going on tell the story.

Messi manages to send the Spanish announcer into rapturous acclaim with his dribbling and finishing this time, seeing off Sevilla along the way.

Real Madrid: Pt.1

Lionel Messi hadn't scored against Real Madrid before 10 March 2007, but by the end of that date he had scored three against Barcelona's big rivals.

His hat-trick strike on that occasion was the pick of them, leaving two defenders in his wake and driving a fizzing effort past another defender and goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Start at 00:16 for this goal.

Real Madrid: Pt.2

Here's Messi at his finest, against the biggest of rivals once more.

This late goal sealed a win for Barca as he ran almost half the length of the pitch, completely alone and yet still able to take on the whole defence and find a telling finish.

Go to 1:29 for this strike.

Real Madrid: Pt.3

In fact, Messi loves scoring against Real Madrid so much that we're having to do this one in three parts.

This is one of his several set piece goals against Real, a fantastic free kick which beat Iker Casillas all ends up.

Don't worry Real fans, that's the lot.

Long Range Half-Volley

A couple of long-rangers then!

Here's an early-days Messi racing through against Sevilla, showing his pace and strength to hold off the defender and fire in a half-volley from outside the box.

Start at 00:34 for this one.

Arsenal Down

One of Messi's biggest performances in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona came against Arsenal, when he destroyed the Gunners with a hat-trick in 2010.

Here's his first goal, a swift exchange of passes which fortuitously bounced back his way—and he punished the Gunners in the most extreme fashion.

Arsenal out

Hit 3:30 and we find Messi's third goal.

This time it's the awareness to make the use of the space behind the defence, his trademark acceleration and, of course, above all else, that ice-cold composure to pick exactly the right option to beat the keeper.

Manuel Almunia, get down, this one's going over your head.

Zaragoza Waltz

Dribbling under pressure is one thing, but holding off a rugby-style challenge to embark on another winding run to score at the end of it is another.

Real Zaragoza's defence had no answer to Messi and his individualism...though they're hardly the only ones to suffer such a fate.

Pass, Dummy, Goal

Here's Messi destroying the Real Sociedad defence, and not for the first time.

This one is a great all-round team goal, started and finished by Messi but certainly owing plenty to his team-mates too.

The Alves and Messi Show

One world-class player is enough to stop at the best of times, but when he teams up with someone who is clearly also in the mood, that becomes nigh on impossible for defences.

Here is poor old Real Sociedad again trying to stop Messi...and Dani Alves. And Messi. And Alves. And... you get the idea.

Team Goal, Messi Finish vs. Betis

Start here on 1:38 for Messi's second goal against Real Betis in the 2012-13 season.

Having come on as a sub, he turned a 2-2 draw into a 4-2 win with a brace, being involved in both the build-up and with the finish with this fine strike. Alexis Sanchez and Andres Iniesta were also involved.

Recent Gift vs. Levante

Here's one which Messi scored just recently, his 399th for club and country.

We tend to look on it as a gift because the keeper gave the ball straight to the forward—but there was still much to do. One quick turn and right-footed chip over the defence and keeper later, the ball was in the net.

Betis Bombed Again

Hit 4:30 for this goal.

It comes against Real Betis and shows all the usual Messi traits: control, ability to beat a man and an unerring finish.

It almost looks "standard" for Messi, but for most others would be a top-class goal.

First-Time Lob vs. Rayo

Giant spaces behind the defence are to Lionel Messi what bitesize sweet treats are to most of the world: inviting, delicious and easily finished off.

Here's Rayo Vallecano's defence offering up such a delicacy to Messi after a Cesc pass frees him down the left channel. Lob!

Racing Away Behind Rayo Pt. 2

Hey Rayo, remember what we were just saying?

Big...giant...spaces.

Messi.

Three Los Che Defenders vs. Messi

Messi takes on world, Messi inevitably wins.

Here he leaves now-team-mate Jeremy Mathieu and two other Valencia defenders trailing in his wake, before feinting across goal and finishing instead inside the near post. Lovely.

Dazzling Against Depor

The first goal on this video, so no need to scroll.

It's an early days bog-standard dribble-infield, leave-three-guys-for-dead, send-the-keeper-the-wrong-way kind of goal. Basic stuff.

Bend It Like... Messi.

Here's something a little different from him now, a long-range effort against Getafe.

There's about seven defenders there all looking to block the route to goal when the ball comes out to him on the edge of the box...but he still manages to find a first-time way through.

Last Goal, Last Minute

3:06, do it.

Brazil vs. Argentina, 0-0, 90 mins and heading into injury time.

Who you gonna call? That's right, Leo.

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