Lionel Messi's highlight reel is one of the most enviable in all of sport, with his triumphs having defined an era in football - but one moment against Real Madrid stands out for him more than the rest.

The Argentine hero's prolific touch in front of goal and his brilliance for both club and country means his legacy is secure. Having quickly become Barcelona's talisman following his debut in 2005, he spent the majority of his career at the Nou Camp. By the time of his departure in 2021, he had notched an implausible 672 times for the Camp Nou outfit - while winning all there is to win at club level in the process.

Following two years with Paris Saint-Germain, he has since moved on to Inter Miami, with his total career goals haul now standing at 848. Despite having scored in the Champions League final appearances for Barcelona and twice as he led Argentina to the World Cup in 2022, it turns out that none of these strikes are his favourite. In fact, the goal he is most proud of is a typical solo effort, which saw him beat four Real Madrid players to score in the Santiago Bernabeu.

The strike in question came in the Champions League semi-final in 2011, with Messi almost single-handedly downing Los Blancos on his own with a virtuoso performance. After breaking the deadlock in the 76th minute, he bobbed and weaved past Lassana Diarra, Sergio Ramos, Raul Albiol and Marcelo before beating a sprawling Iker Casillas.

At the time, the two teams were locked in an intense battle for supremacy both domestically and in Europe, with the rivalry between opposing managers Pep Guardiolaand Jose Mourinho at its height. The goal booked the La Liga giants' place in the showpiece at Wembley Stadium, where they eventually beat Manchester United, beating Sir Alex Ferguson's side 3-1.