Lionel Messi can be regarded as the ultimate king of El Clásico. La Pulga has 26 goals and 14 assists in his 45 appearances, and that makes him the top scorer and assist provider in Clasico history. The Argentine, in his 45 games against Los Blancos, has given us some memorable moments to cherish and remember. These included some iconic last-minute winners and a few fantastic wonder goals. These cemented his legacy as Barcelona’s ultimate slayer of Madrid.
Most Iconic Goal in El Clasico History?
I do not think there’s any moment colder than Messi’s 92nd-minute winner in 2017. After sprinting past the Madrid defence and slotting the ball home, Leo took off his shirt and held it up to the stunned Bernabeu crowd. The number 10 jersey was up, Leo’s eyes were filled with an unmatchable aura, and the crowd was as silent as a grave.
It was Leo’s statement of his pure dominance against the men in white. The Madridistas had spent the game chanting for their number 7, Cristiano Ronaldo, but Leo just silenced them in the most disrespectful (and legendary, of course) way possible. Even now, that image of him standing there, with his shirt in hand, is the perfect snap of his psychological stronghold over Real Madrid. It’s definitely the most iconic goal in El Clasico history.
Messi’s 26 Goals Against Real Madrid Prove He Owned El Clásicos
Leo’s track record against Los Blancos is just too sublime. A G/A of 40 in 45 games, especially with a significant portion of those goals coming during the galactico era, is mind-blowing to imagine. These goals and assists decided games and weren’t just numbers. Whether it was his first clasico goal in 2007, his first hat-trick at 19, his incredible solo run in the 2011 UCL semifinal, or the late penalty in 2019, Leo always showed up when his beloved team needed him.
Personally, what really amazes me isn’t the quantity of these goals or assists, but the timing of them. The No. 10 scored open-play bangers, clutch penalties, a cheeky panenka, and even a free-kick against Casillas. Messi’s greatness can be defined by the fact that he is the greatest player ever to play in the greatest game on the planet. Period.
Messi’s Evolution in El Clásico
Leo’s first goal against Madrid came when he was just 19. It was a sign of the great things that were going to come. Over the years, he transitioned his gameplay amazingly. The Argentine transitioned from being a tricky winger to a false nine, then a playmaking forward. However, one thing never changed: he always hurt Real Madrid.
He had this ability to adapt while still dominating this fixture, which really shows how genius the little guy was. Early on, he relied more on his pace and dribbling. In his later years, he controlled games more with his passing and movement. No matter what the era or manager, Leo proved to be the constant thorn in Madrid’s side.
The Hat-Trick That Cemented His Legend
If you guys want one game that sums up Leo’s Clasico greatness, it’s definitely the 2014 Bernabeu clasico. The Catalans were trailing, but Leo scored a sensational hat-trick, including an ice-cool penalty and a ruthless finish to seal a 4-3 victory in the hostile Madrid home arena.
Los Blancos’ star-studded defensive setup had no answers. Once again, Leo dictated the game and proved that whenever El clasico was on the line, he was the sole man who decided it.