Lionel Messi's 37th birthday celebration means the GOAT, as he's deservedly bestowed, is closer to retirement than we think.

Especially now that he's won everything that there's in football and, as a bonus, had revenge against Alexis Sanchez Chile, the country that consecutively denied him the Copa America trophy in 2015 and 2016 and nearly forced him into premature retirement.

Messi's revenge came on June 26, a few nights after his birthday celebration, and even better, it was in a Copa America tournament hosted in the USA.

In honor of Lionel Messi’s birthday, I have picked 11 of his most iconic performances in FC Barcelona's shirt, moments you can bookmark to imaginarily stand and cheer, especially in today's world of overly boring football.

Note that some of these moments aren't necessarily his best performances (though he never had a bad game), and they're not all moments in which he won a trophy or received an award.

These are the moments in his career that are the most memorable and iconic to the football world, and gnashing of teeth for the opposite fans. As such, it’s a subjective list.

1. May 1, 2005: A Star is Born: 

Lionel Messi, under manager Frank Rijkaard, comes on for FC Barcelona and scores his first goal against Albacete.

Messi, after being assisted by the legendary Ronaldinho, jumped on his assister's back to celebrate like father and son. And he was carried enthusiastically by the Brazilian magician. A display that  some call passing of the torch. 

Aged just 17 years old, he became Barcelona’s youngest-ever scorer at the time.

2. April 18, 2007: “Encara Messi”: 

18-year-old Messi weaves through a traffic of Getafe defenders at lightning pace to recreate Diego Amando Maradona's famous “Goal of the Century.”

The goal sent shivers through Madrid and rumbled the football universe. The commentator, Joaquim Maria Puyal, was astonished. Defender David Belenguer felt proud. Manager Michael Laudrup chirped about it. 

It was beautiful! A moment so iconic that it became an example of one of football’s earliest and biggest viral videos. Encara Messi!

3. March 10, 2007: “The Lionel Messi Match”: 

The name Lionel Messi re-echoed in Real Madrid. 

Messi, at just 19 years old, announced himself to the world of football with his first ever hat-trick for Barça in the biggest game of all, El Clásico.

The match ended in a hard-fought 3-3 draw, and Messi was by far the star of the match.

4. May 27, 2009: The Headed Goal: 

Every one of Messi's goals is spectacular, and this one against Manchester United isn't only attractive but also a moment of fame, as it was the goal that rounded up a spectacular UCL final.

A weak clearance from Edwin van der Sar was cut out by Carles Puyol. He played the ball to Samuel Eto'o, and the ball broke to Xavi, who crossed into the penalty area, where Messi, only 1.69 meters tall, rose to send a looping header over the United goalkeeper and into the far side of the goal at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

It was a moment of truth. It was hard to imagine that Messi would have a chance to score a header with a defender like Ferdinand on guard. The header was enough to confirm a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

5. November 29, 2010 “La Manita”: 

Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side. Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid a formidable opponent. 

The first El Clásico of the season was scheduled at Camp Nou. Messi got two assists, splitting the defense open to play in David Villa twice. But this wasn't the catch.

Mourinho, renowned for his 'anti-football' theatrics, ordered his soldiers to defend more and be unapologetically brutal.

Ramos, Carvalho, and Pepe. The most horrific forces in world football nailed Messi numerous times but couldn't stop him. 

A limping Messi walking off the pitch and staring up at the scoreboard, which reads “FC Barcelona 5, Real Madrid 0,” while Cristiano Ronaldo admires on the sidelines, is unforgettable.

6. March 8, 2011: The Wonderful Scoop:

Messi's wonderful scoop and finish against Arsenal in the Champions League will live long in the memory.

Barcelona lost 2-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie against the Gunners, managed by Arsène Wenger, a radical strategist whose game was mesmerizing in its grace. Winning by military precision and procession was antithetical to Wenger’s core beliefs. "The professor," they call him!

Guess what? Messi came through with a supreme technique, scoring two goals, but it was the one where he lifted the ball over Manuel Almunia's head in the six-yard box that endured. Poise and assurance.

7. May 28, 2011: Banger Against United: 

The masterful Argentinian put United to the sword again, scoring his first goal on an English pitch as Barcelona dispatched Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley.

Messi was 30 yards from goal when he picked up an apparently innocuous square pass from Andrés Iniesta. With three touches, he had zigzagged 10 yards, making Manchester United defenders a dummy of themselves. 

Patrice Evra made a belated sprint to meet the Barça magician when he calmly cocked his left leg and sent a shot past Edwin van der Sar. 

Two Champions League finals against Barcelona and two losses for Sir Alex Ferguson. Unbearable! The camera pounced on the tactician, impotently shaking in anger on the sidelines.

8. 10. May 30, 2015: Copa del Rey Solo Goal: 

Arguably Messi's best solo goal, it was the cup final against Athletic Bilbao, and Leo didn't only light up the space with unending flashes of brilliance but scored a goal that earned comparisons to Diego Maradona's 'Goal of the Century' once again.

Receiving the ball in a wide position just inside the athletic half, Messi produced a quick turn of pace, drifting into remote areas away from his notional markers, then shifting the ball onto his left foot and blasting home. It was beautiful!

9. 15. March 17, 2019: Betis Chants for Messi: 

A goal so good that it had opposition fans chanting his name in appreciation of his greatness.

It sealed a remarkable hat-trick, finessed with a brilliant free kick, but Messi's long-distance chip against the goalkeeper, Dani Rebollo, was something special.

Despite losing 4-1, the Real Betis supporters were deeply entertained, to the extent of giving Messi a richly deserved standing ovation in appreciation.

10. May 6, 2015: Twisted into Oblivion: 

Bayern defender Jerome Boateng endured the most humiliating of his career at the hands of Lionel Messi in the Uefa Champions League.

Ivan Rakitic played a great pass to Messi a few meters from the vertex of the large area. As usual, contact with the ball seemed to send electricity coursing through the Argentinian slight frame. 

With a touch, he had Jerome Boateng standing on guard in a 1v1 duel inside the box, and he solved the move in the least logical way, putting the defender right on his backside with a deft dribble and an instant change of direction.

Messi twisted Boateng into next week, rendering him completely decapitated, then calmly dinked the ball over the onrushing Manuel Neuer in great astonishment.

Trophy-wise, Jerome Boateng is one of the most decorated defenders in world football, but that rinsing from Lionel Messi will be the one moment people remember.

11. April 23, 2017: Hunt You Forever Shirt Celebration: 

With this strike at the Bernabeu, Messi left a wound in the hearts of Madristas that'd linger forever.

Barcelona were determined that they wouldn't concede the title to Real Madrid just yet, and the game looked on course to end in a 2-2 draw until this happened!

Sergi Roberto picked up a pass from Barça's half and made a Forrest Gump-esque run in stoppage time to roll a gracious pass to Jordi Alba, who superbly cuts back to Lionel Messi, and the magic man strikes beautifully from the edge of the area.

It was his 500th Barcelona goal and memorable for his celebration, in which he simply stood in front of the Real Madrid fans, bearing the back of his No. 10 shirt as they jeered relentlessly. You know the name!


Your turn. Which of Messi's iconic moments during his reign in Barcelona deserves to be on the list, and which needs to be pushed out? And which moments on the list are your favorites? Do you remember where you were when you saw these unfold in real time? Tell us!

Source: upbarca