Lionel Messi vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona
April 27, 2011
Santiago Bernabeu
Games do not come much bigger than this: a Champions League semi-final between El Clasico rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. The lasting image of the 2010-11 tie came in the first leg, as Lionel Messi waltzed his way through the opposition defence.
A quick one-two with Sergio Busquets 10 yards inside his own half would end with the five-time Ballon d'Or winner tucking the ball into the bottom corner, taking five players out of the game in the process.
Messi, very much at the peak of his powers, acted almost as though Sergio Ramos, Lassana Diarra, Marcelo and Raul Albiol were not there, before slotting it past a helpless Iker Casillas.
Used in a deeper position, the Argentina international produced a truly magical run to cement his status as one of the competition's greatest ever players, with Barca going on to beat Manchester United in the final.
Daniel Lewis
