Leo Messi, 20 goals in 23 finals
They say that to be a great footballer, you need to deliver the goods in the biggest games. And there is no way that Leo Messi could be accused of failing in that respect. He scored twice in Saturday’s Cup Final, the first of which will surely go down in history as one of the finest goals ever scored in the competition. After being involved in Neymar’s goal to make it 2-0, the Argentinian topped a stellar performance with the definitive third Barça goal against Athletic.
In total, Messi has played in 23 different finals, and has scored 20 goal in those games. His first was the Spanish Super Cup of 2006 against Espanyol. He didn’t score in that match, but what has followed since then makes for truly remarkable reading.
Messi has shone in both Champions League Finals that he’s featured in to date. He found the net both in Rome in 2009 and then again at Wembley in 2011, both times in wins over Manchester United. In addition, he’s scored ten goals in six Spanish Super Cup Finals, one goal in three European Super Cup Finals, four goals in five Spanish Cup Finals and three in the Club World Cup Final. And next Saturday in Berlin he’ll have the chance to further extend his record as Barça take on Juventus for the European crown.
Here’s a full list of Messi’s 23 finals and the goals he scored in them:
SEASON | DATE | COMPETITION | OPPONENT | GOALS |
2006/07 | 17-20/08/06 | Spanish Super Cup | Espanyol | 0 |
2006/07 | 25/08/06 | European Super Cup | Sevilla | 0 |
2008/09 | 13/05/09 | Spanish Cup | Athletic Club | 1 |
2008/09 | 27/05/09 | Champions League | Manchester United | 1 |
2009/10 | 23/08/09 | Spanish Super Cup | Athletic Club | 2 |
2009/10 | 28/08/09 | European Super Cup | Shakhtar Donetsk | 0 |
2009/10 | 19/12/09 | Club World Cup | Estudiantes | 1 |
2010/11 | 14-21/08/10 | Spanish Super Cup | Sevilla | 3 |
2010/11 | 20/04/11 | Spanish Cup | Reial Madrid | 0 |
2010/11 | 28/05/11 | Champions League | Manchester United | 1 |
2011/12 | 14-17/08/11 | Spanish Super Cup | Reial Madrid | 3 |
2011/12 | 26/08/11 | European Super Cup | Porto | 1 |
2011/12 | 18/12/11 | Club World Cup | Santos | 2 |
2011/12 | 25/05/12 | Spanish Cup | Athletic Club | 1 |
2012/13 | 2-15/09/12 | Spanish Super Cup | Reial Madrid | 2 |
2013/14 | 21-28/08/13 | Spanish Super Cup | Atlético Madrid | 0 |
2013/14 | 16/04/14 | Spanish Cup | Reial Madrid | 0 |
2014/15 | 30/05/15 | Spanish Cup | Athletic Club | 2 |