5 most important goals in Leo Messi's career

Lionel Messi has scored some fabulous goals in his career, 522 in total and still counting. However, some have been more important than others. Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t yet won an international trophy, so his goals for his country have been slightly less important than those for Barcelona.

However, with the Argentinian having won multiple Champions League’s and league titles, he has scored many memorable important goals for Barca.

Here are Messi’s five most important career goals:

#5 Real Madrid – UCL semi-final 2011

Messi finishes off an incredible run

It was a night of Jose Mourinho v Pep Guardiola and Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi, but it would be one only the Barcelona pair will want to remember. It would be they who walked away from the Bernabeu rubbing their hands together with one eye already on the Champions League final.

This El Clasico was a tight contest with lots of drama and Dani Alves and Pepe being at the forefront of it, unsurprisingly. However, it was Pepe who would be the player to break first, and after a silly challenge, the Portuguese international was sent off, opening up the game away from home for Barcelona, to Messi’s delight.

Having already scored the opener with a near post finish, 11 minutes later, he scored one of the greatest Champions League goals ever. Just past the half-way line, Sergio Busquets rolled the ball and stepped out of the Argentinian’s way as he first ran past Lassana Diarra, before stepping past both Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol and running inside of Marcelo.

This left him with Iker Casillas to beat, off balance with his right foot, and of course, he did. Words cannot describe how magnificent it was, practically sealing Barcelona’s spot in 2011 final.

#4 Manchester United – UCL final 2009

Messi's header left Van Der Saar helpless in goal

Once again it was a night where all eyes were on the two managers and two players, but in particular, there was a battle of who was better between Ronaldo and Messi.

Ronaldo had almost single-handedly dragged United to the final with a thunderous strike at Porto in the quarter-final and two goals, with one being a 35 yard free-kick, away to Arsenal in the semi-final.

However, apart from a bright opening from Ronaldo, it would be Messi who would silence his critics, scoring his first goal against an English club, and seal the Champions League for Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona side.

Barcelona were threatening, and Xavi picked the ball up in midfield, seeing Messi had peeled off Rio Ferdinand. An exquisite ball then perfectly picked out the Argentinian, where he would surprisingly, score with his head. He leapt in the air as the ball was crossed in and cushioned a header past Edwin Van Der Saar, leaving the keeper helpless.

#3 Atletico Madrid – La Liga 2014/15

Messi celebrates the goal that confirmed Barcelona would win the La Liga title in 2015

With both Atletico away and Deportivo still to come in Barcelona’s final two games of the 2014/15 season, the title looked like it may go to the wire with Atletico’s home record. Although Barcelona looked strong all season, Atletico were still a formidable force at home, who could easily deny them a victory.

However, it would be Messi’s goal that would secure the La Liga title, away at Atletico Madrid, relieving the pressure on the players for the final home game. They would go on to eventually draw against Deportivo, but due to the win at Atletico, the title was already in the bag, illustrating the importance of Messi’s goal.

Playing a 1-2 with Pedro just inside the box, he receives the ball back, rolls over it once and places it into the corner, sending the Barcelona players and fans into a frenzy, knowing that would be the goal to seal the La Liga title.

#2 Manchester United – UCL final 2011

Barcelona v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Final

Similarly to 2009, this was another Champions League final where Messi was being questioned, this time because he had never before scored in England, and the final between Barcelona and Manchester United was being played at Wembley.

Once again, the Argentinian had no problems silencing those critics, as his crucial goal made it 2-1, and led Pep Guardiola to his second Champions League victory and Barcelona to their fourth.

Pedro opened the scoring early on, but a wonderful finish from Wayne Rooney meant the scores were level at half-time, despite Barcelona’s clear dominance in their play and efforts on goal.

Just nine minutes into the second half, Messi made sure his Barcelona side would not let United take advantage of his side’s poor finishing. Receiving the ball outside the box, a low powerful strike made its way past Van Der Saar, giving Barcelona the lead.

In celebration, Messi showed passion and even kicked the advertising boards, emphasising how important the goal was to him.

#1 Athletic Bilbao – Copa Del Rey final

Messi calmly celebrates a goal that'll never be forgotten

2015 was a good year for Messi and Barcelona, evidently with this being another one of his most important goals being scored in the same year as the title-winning goal.

Having already won the League and the Champions League final still to come, the Copa Del Rey had to be won to give Barcelona any chance of winning the treble. A magical run from Messi, a goal from Neymar and another Messi goal secured the double before they would go on to beat Juventus and win the treble.

He received the ball just past the halfway line, stood still and took a second to identify what was going to be necessary for him to score. He went past one, before three players surrounded him, including the player he had already beat.

He beat all three, got to the 18-yard box on a tight angle on the right-hand side, cut inside and beat another player, before smashing the ball in at an extremely tight angle at the near post. Words cannot describe how good the goal was, but it was also one of huge importance.