Lionel Messi made headlines on Saturday with a stunning performance, scoring four goals for the reigning MLS champions Inter Miami CF in their impressive 7-1 victory over CF Montréal.
For a player who has scored over 900 goals throughout his illustrious career with Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, this achievement is far from unprecedented.
In fact, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has recorded a “poker” (four goals in a single match) at least nine times, with a few games even seeing him score more than four.
– Messi tracker: Goals, assists, moments for Miami, Argentina
Here are memorable highlights of every occasion when the GOAT achieved the “GOATiest of GOAT” performances.
1. Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal, Champions League (April 6, 2010)
😮 Most unforgettable FOUR-goal performance in #UCL history?
🔵🔴 Lionel Messi (Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal, 06/04/2010)#FlashbackFriday | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/sJCeTpNJfn
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 4, 2019
On a memorable night for Messi (and a tough one for Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny), Messi achieved his first career four-goal match during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg, securing his spot among Barcelona’s top 10 all-time goal scorers.
2. Barcelona 5-1 Valencia, LaLiga (Feb. 19, 2012)
OTD in 2012, Messi scored 4 g⚽⚽⚽⚽als vs Valencia pic.twitter.com/LqN5vV09pO
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 19, 2023
Messi waited almost two years to notch his next “poker,” celebrating it in style on his 200th LaLiga appearance for Barcelona.
3. Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League (March 7, 2012)
🔵🔴 #OTD in 2012, Messi scores FIVE at Camp Nou 🤯
⏰⚽️2⃣5⃣ Messi
⏰⚽️4⃣2⃣ Messi
⏰⚽️4⃣9⃣ Messi
⏰⚽️5⃣8⃣ Messi
⏰⚽️8⃣4⃣ Messi@FCBarcelona | #UCL pic.twitter.com/poWMufNV7t— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 7, 2021
In 2012, Messi was in peak form, striking again for four goals shortly after, and even reaching new heights with five goals against Bayer Leverkusen.
4. Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol, LaLiga (May 5, 2012) (Pep’s final game)
Messi finished the incredible 2011-12 season with a flourish, scoring his 50th league goal in Pep Guardiola’s last match as coach, marking yet another four-goal outing.
5. Barcelona 5-1 Osasuna, LaLiga (Jan. 27, 2013)
In the following year, Messi scored his 200th LaLiga goal within another four-goal performance. This match started a remarkable scoring streak that would extend for 19 matches.
6. Barcelona 6-1 Eibar, LaLiga (Sept. 19, 2017)
GOAL: “Leo Messi holds himself up better than a pole dancer.” – @RayHudson #BarcaEibar pic.twitter.com/YcU4p0YPGV
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) September 19, 2017
Messi knows how to time his four-goal outings to coincide with personal milestones; his next came at Camp Nou as he hit the 300-goal mark.
7. Barcelona 5-0 Eibar, LaLiga (Feb. 22, 2020)
👻🤼♂️ “Trying to tackle him is like wrestling with a ghost!” – @RayHudson
Messi dances to put @FCBarcelona in front of @SDEibarEN #BarcaEibar
📺 – beIN SPORTS
💻📱beIN SPORTS CONNECT: https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/8OtN6wufML— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 22, 2020
In 2020, Eibar again became the target of Messi’s blaze of goals, and after the game, the club took to social media to recognize his brilliance: “We suffer you, we put up with you, we endure you. And we have no choice but to stand up and applaud you.”
8. Argentina vs. Estonia, International Friendly (June 5, 2022)
While the reason for Argentina’s friendly match against Estonia in Pamplona remains unclear, Messi seized the opportunity to become the first male player to achieve four goals in both a Champions League game and a senior international match. Six months later, he helped lead the team to FIFA World Cup victory.
9. Inter Miami CF 7-1 CF Montréal, MLS (Aug. 29, 2026)
It took another four years, but even at 39, Messi is still capable of dazzling performances.
“I will say it again: I have no words for such soccer beauty,” said Miami’s interim coach Guillermo Hoyos after the match. “So many things combined leave you speechless, right?
“I don’t think he’s an ordinary soccer player.”
And we wholeheartedly agree.