Every time Messi has scored 4 goals (or more!) for Barcelona, Miami and Argentina

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  Tony MabertAug 30, 2026, 08:00 AM ET

Lionel Messi grabbed the headlines on Saturday by scoring four goals for reigning MLS champions Inter Miami CF in their 7-1 win over CF Montréal.

But, for a player who has scored more than 900 goals in a trophy-laden career for Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, the feat is nothing new.

In fact, the eight-time winner of the Ballon d'Or has scored a "poker" no fewer than nine times to date. And, on a couple of those occasions, he netted even more than four.

- Messi tracker: Goals, assists, moments for Miami, Argentina

Here are highlights of every single time that the GOAT has done the GOATiest of GOAT things.

1. Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal, Champions League (April 6, 2010)

On a big night for Messi (and a bad one for Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny), Messi hit the first four-goal haul of his career in a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg to move into the ranks of Barcelona's top 10 goal scorers of all-time.

2. Barcelona 5-1 Valencia, LaLiga (Feb. 19, 2012)

Messi had to wait almost two full years for his next "poker," but when it came it was a fine way to mark his 200th appearance in LaLiga for Barça.

3. Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League (March 7, 2012)

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 7, 2021

In 2012, Messi was in the best form of his career, and it only took him a couple more weeks to score four goals again. In fact, he was so hot, that he scored five in one match against poor old Leverkusen.

4. Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol, LaLiga (May 5, 2012) (Pep's final game)

Messi capped off an incredible 2011-12 season in the final game by netting his 50th league goal of the campaign. That landmark came as part of his latest four-goal haul, on Pep Guardiola's last match as Barcelona coach.

5. Barcelona 5-1 Osasuna, LaLiga (Jan. 27, 2013)

The following year, Messi scored his 200th LaLiga strike as part of a four-goal salvo. This match was the 11th game of a scoring streak that would eventually extend to 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 the delivery of his "poker" performances to hit personal milestones. His next one included his 300th goal scored at Camp Nou.

7. Barcelona 5-0 Eibar, LaLiga (Feb. 22, 2020)

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) February 22, 2020

Eibar were again the victims of a Messi scoring blitz in 2020, and this time they could only praise their tormentor. After the match, the club posted on social media: "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)

Why Argentina were playing Estonia in Spanish city of Pamplona, we can't really say. But we do know that he became the first male player to score four goals in a single Champions League game and a senior international match that night. Six months later, he led them to FIFA World Cup glory.

9. Inter Miami CF 7-1 CF Montréal, MLS (Aug. 29, 2026)

It took another four years but, at the age of 39, Messi is still capable of posting those big numbers.

"I'll say it again: I don't have any qualifiers for such soccer beauty," Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos said postmatch. "There are so many things combined that leave you at a loss for words, no?