Record-Setter Lionel Messi's Top 10 Goals in Champions League

Lionel Messi has equaled Raul Gonzalez's Champions League goals record following his two strikes in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Ajax.

The Barcelona star joined the former Real Madrid hero on 71 goals in the competition with his 76th minute effort.

Here we look at Messi's best goals from his record Champions League haul.

These are not just the best goals based on sheer technical ability but also their significance in a personal or team sense.

The Goal That Put Him Alongside Raul in 2014

The goal itself was not spectacular, but it was classic Lionel Messi. He ran across the face of the defence, playing an aggressive ball into the path of substitute Pedro Rodriguez. The Spaniard took one touch and played a low ball towards the six-yard box.

And there to meet it was Messi. Again. Always moving, he timed his run to perfection to slide in between two defenders and knock the ball past the helpless Jasper Cillessen.

Agility, ingenuity and simply being on a higher plane than all those around him.

He had already netted the first goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win, heading home Marc Bartra's cross.

The Header That Sealed Champions League Final Victory in 2009

It's not often Lionel Messi scores a header and this is arguably his best ever. What a stage for it too, the 2009 Champions League final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Manchester United were trailing Barcelona 1-0 and Sir Alex Ferguson had just thrown on Dimitar Berbatov to try and grab the equaliser.

But Barcelona countered a United attack and the ball broke to Xavi on the edge of the box. He whipped in a cross and there was Messi, who sent the ball back across goal with a brilliant header to seal the victory.

One Cheeky Chip Among Five Goals Against Leverkusen in 2012

Lionel Messi didn't just score one brilliant goal in this game but five.

Bayer Leverkusen were lambs to the slaughter as the Argentine genius ripped them apart, becoming the first player to score five goals in one Champions League game.

The best of the bunch sealed his hat-trick just after half-time, when he was put in on goal and produced a succulent chip over the stranded 'keeper.

The Start of Something Special, vs. Panathinaikos in 2005

This was Lionel Messi's first Champions League goal, and it came back against Panathinaikos back in 2005.

Barcelona were already 2-0 up and went on to win 5-0, with Messi grabbing the third.

A little dink over the goalkeeper before ramming it home from close range and his legendary career in Europe was born.

Thunderbolt Against Copenhagen in 2010

This strike against Copenhagen during the Champions League group stage in October 2010 was an absolute thunderbolt.

Messi received the ball on the edge of the box and, with nothing else on, decided to have a pop.

And what a pop it was, the ball rocketing into the back of the net, leaving the 'keeper with no chance at all.

You Won't Like Him When He's Angry, vs. Arsenal in 2010

Lionel Messi usually keeps a cool head. However, against Arsenal in 2010, when he bagged a hat-trick during Barcelona's 4-1 victory, he let his temper get the better of him.

With the score at 1-0 to Arsenal, he came inside from the right and tried to thread a ball through, which was cut out.

It bounced back to him and, perhaps angry with his own poor pass, he let rip with a strike that crashed into the top-right corner and is probably still giving Manuel Almunia nightmares to this day.

A Top-Corner Special Against Stuttgart in 2010

Having drawn 1-1 in the first leg against VfB Stuttgart in the round of 16, Barcelona needed something special to sort the wheat from the chaff.

That something special was Lionel Messi. He scored twice in a 4-0 win, with his first worth reliving.

Yaya Toure fed the ball to the forward, who tricked Zdravko Kuzmanovic and then fired between two defenders past the helpless Jens Lehmann.

Taking the Mick Against Arsenal (Again) in 2011

Arsenal and Manuel Almunia were the victims of Lionel Messi again in 2011.

It was a last-16 clash, which saw Barcelona eventually win 3-1 to overturn Arsenal's 2-1 lead from the first leg.

Messi received the ball in the box, brilliantly flicked it over the goalkeeper and fired home from close range, bringing to mind his first goal in the Champions League, which we saw earlier.

The Start of a Heroic Comeback vs. Milan in 2013

With Barcelona 2-0 down from the first leg against AC Milan in the Champions League last 16, Lionel Messi was the inspiration for an amazing second leg comeback.

The Catalan giants won 4-0 and Messi struck a spectacular opener before later adding another.

He controlled the ball well after a pass was fired into his feet at some speed, found his balance, played a one-two and curled a strike into the top-left corner.

A Classic Goal Against His Classic Rivals in 2011

It doesn't get better for a Barcelona hero than scoring against Real Madrid, particularly if that goal comes in the Champions League semi-final.

Barcelona won an ill-tempered first leg, 2-0, thanks to two Lionel Messi strikes, but it was the second that will be forever remembered.

Messi went on a typical slalom run, which culminated in a perfectly placed right-foot finish. Simply magnificent.