#4 Lionel Messi to Ivan Rakitic vs Manchester City, UEFA Champions League 2014-15
Messi’s 2014-15 season was probably the most impactful one of his career, as it led him to a Ballon D’Or victory in 2015. He earned it on the back of some vintage performances in the Champions League – none more so than his spellbinding 90-minute highlight reel against City in their second-leg faceoff. Messi already had a number of wow moments in his first leg, but this one practically raised the bar impractically high for footballers of the future.
After a perfect nutmeg on the onrushing James Milner which left Pep Guardiola open-mouthed as he watched on from the gallery, Messi proceeded to humiliate every City midfielder on their own home ground.
Late in the first half, he spotted Ivan Rakitic making an unmarked run in from the left and scooped a delightful, inch-perfect lob into his path. Rakitic rounded off the move with a wonderful finish of his own as Barcelona triumphed 1-0 on the night.
