Messi's most iconic moments as he ponders retirement

Lionel Messi is contemplating retirement from football, following the passing of his father Jorge. The 39-year-old Argentine forward, who is currently signed with Inter Miami until 2028, has scored an impressive 921 goals throughout his career. In an emotional tribute to his late father, Messi admitted that he is unsure if he will continue playing for much longer.

One of the most iconic moments of his career was his first-ever hat-trick, scored against rivals Real Madrid in an El Clasico match at the Camp Nou. At just 19 years old, Messi scored all three goals for Barcelona in a 3-3 draw, including a stunning last-minute finish. This moment catapulted him to stardom and is still remembered as one of the most impressive displays of skill in football history.

Another remarkable goal came during the Copa del Rey semi-final in 2007, against Getafe. Messi's dribble and finish against five defenders has been compared to Diego Maradona's goal against England during the 1986 World Cup. This goal further solidified Messi's reputation as one of the greatest players in the world.

In 2009, Messi again showcased his goal-scoring prowess by scoring a header during the Champions League final against Manchester United. Although English fans and journalists questioned his ability to perform against English opponents, Messi proved them wrong by rising highest in the box to head home Xavi's cross. This goal marked the start of Messi's impressive record of scoring four or more goals on seven different occasions for Barcelona.

In 2012, Messi broke Barcelona's all-time goalscoring record when he scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over Granada. At the age of just 24, he surpassed Cesar Rodriguez's 60-year-old record of 232 goals. By the time he left Barcelona in 2021, Messi had extended the record to an astonishing 672 goals, surpassing Ronaldo's previous record of 311 goals for Real Madrid.