Messi Scored 4 Goals in a single match on nine occasions during his extraordinary career for Barcelona, Argentina and Inter Miami. From his first four-goal performance against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League to his latest four-goal display for Inter Miami against CF Montréal, Lionel Messi has repeatedly produced some of the most memorable scoring performances in modern football.
When Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals, it was often more than just another impressive statistic. Several of his four-goal games coincided with important personal milestones, while one of his performances went beyond four goals when he scored five times against Bayer Leverkusen.
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A four-goal performance is commonly known in football as a “poker.” Messi has produced this remarkable feat across different competitions and at different stages of his career, demonstrating his extraordinary goalscoring consistency and longevity.
How Many Times Has Messi Scored 4 Goals?
Messi Scored 4 Goals or more in nine matches highlighted in this career record. His first came for Barcelona against Arsenal in April 2010, while his most recent came for Inter Miami against CF Montréal in August 2026.
Most of these performances came during his legendary Barcelona career, while Argentina and Inter Miami also feature on the list.
| No. | Match | Competition | Date | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal | Champions League | April 6, 2010 | 4 |
| 2 | Barcelona 5-1 Valencia | LaLiga | February 19, 2012 | 4 |
| 3 | Barcelona 7-1 Bayer Leverkusen | Champions League | March 7, 2012 | 5 |
| 4 | Barcelona 4-0 Espanyol | LaLiga | May 5, 2012 | 4 |
| 5 | Barcelona 5-1 Osasuna | LaLiga | January 27, 2013 | 4 |
| 6 | Barcelona 6-1 Eibar | LaLiga | September 19, 2017 | 4 |
| 7 | Barcelona 5-0 Eibar | LaLiga | February 22, 2020 | 4 |
| 8 | Argentina vs Estonia | International Friendly | June 5, 2022 | 4 |
| 9 | Inter Miami 7-1 CF Montréal | MLS | August 29, 2026 | 4 |
1. Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Arsenal in 2010
The first time Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals in a single match came against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg on April 6, 2010.
Barcelona won the match 4-1, with Messi scoring all four goals. It was the first four-goal haul of his career and immediately became one of the defining individual performances of his early Barcelona years.
The performance also helped Messi move into Barcelona’s top 10 all-time goalscorers at the time.
For many fans, this match was an early indication of just how dominant Messi could become. He was already one of the world’s best players, but Messi Scored 4 Goals against Arsenal in a performance that further established his reputation on the biggest European stage.
2. Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Valencia in 2012
Nearly two years later, Messi Scored 4 Goals again when Barcelona defeated Valencia 5-1 in LaLiga on February 19, 2012.
The performance came during one of the most productive periods of Messi’s career. It was also his 200th appearance in LaLiga for Barcelona, making the occasion even more memorable.
The four-goal display against Valencia demonstrated the incredible consistency Messi had developed in front of goal. Rather than being a one-off achievement, his ability to score four goals became a recurring feature of his Barcelona career.
3. Lionel Messi Scored 5 Goals Against Bayer Leverkusen
One of the most remarkable examples of Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals or more came against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on March 7, 2012.
Barcelona destroyed Leverkusen 7-1, but Messi went beyond the four-goal mark by scoring five goals in the match.
The performance came only a few weeks after his four-goal game against Valencia. Messi was in extraordinary form during the 2011-12 season, and his five-goal Champions League performance remains one of the standout scoring displays of his career.
Although this was technically a five-goal match, it belongs in any discussion of the occasions when Messi Scored 4 Goals or more.
4. Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Espanyol
On May 5, 2012, Messi Scored 4 Goals as Barcelona defeated Espanyol 4-0 in LaLiga.
The match was played on the final day of Barcelona’s 2011-12 league campaign and represented another extraordinary individual performance from Messi. His four goals included his 50th league goal of the season.
The occasion had another important connection to Barcelona history because it was Pep Guardiola’s final match as the club’s coach.
For Messi, finishing the league season with four goals was the perfect ending to an incredible campaign.
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5. Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Osasuna
The next year, Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals against Osasuna as Barcelona recorded a 5-1 LaLiga victory on January 27, 2013.
The match produced another important milestone for Messi. One of his four goals was his 200th LaLiga strike.
The performance also arrived during a remarkable scoring streak. It was the 11th consecutive match in which Messi had found the net, with that streak eventually reaching 19 games.
Once again, Messi Scored 4 Goals while reaching a major personal milestone, highlighting how frequently his spectacular performances were connected with significant moments in his career.
6. Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Eibar in 2017
After several years without another four-goal performance, Messi Scored 4 Goals against Eibar in Barcelona’s 6-1 LaLiga victory on September 19, 2017.
By this point in his career, Messi had already established himself as one of the greatest players in football history. Yet he continued to produce extraordinary scoring performances.
The Eibar match was another example of Messi combining goalscoring brilliance with an important personal milestone. The performance included his 300th goal at Camp Nou.
His four goals helped Barcelona secure a comfortable victory while adding another memorable chapter to his remarkable scoring record.
7. Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals Against Eibar Again in 2020
Eibar became the victim of another Messi scoring masterclass on February 22, 2020.
Barcelona defeated Eibar 5-0, with Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals in another devastating individual display.
What made the performance particularly interesting was that Messi had already scored four goals against Eibar in 2017. Three years later, he repeated the achievement against the same opponent.
Eibar even acknowledged Messi’s extraordinary performance on social media after the match, illustrating the respect his goalscoring ability had earned even from opponents.
8. Messi Scored 4 Goals for Argentina Against Estonia
Messi’s four-goal performances were not limited to Barcelona.
On June 5, 2022, Messi Scored 4 Goals for Argentina against Estonia in an international friendly. The performance demonstrated that his extraordinary scoring ability could translate from club football to the international stage.
The achievement was particularly significant because Messi became the first male player to score four goals in both a Champions League match and a senior international match.
Later that year, Messi helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup, adding the biggest international trophy of his career.
9. Messi Scored 4 Goals for Inter Miami in 2026
The latest occasion when Messi Scored 4 Goals came on August 29, 2026, when Inter Miami defeated CF Montréal 7-1 in MLS.
At the age of 39, Messi once again demonstrated his remarkable longevity by scoring four goals in a single match.
The performance was another reminder that Messi remained capable of producing extraordinary numbers even after moving away from European football.
Inter Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos praised Messi’s performance after the match, emphasizing how unusual and extraordinary the Argentine’s abilities are.
For Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals to become a headline at the age of 39 shows just how remarkable his career longevity has been.
Messi’s Four-Goal Performances by Club and Country
The nine performances show that Messi Scored 4 Goals primarily during his Barcelona career, but he also achieved the feat with Argentina and Inter Miami.
Barcelona accounts for seven of the nine matches highlighted in this record. Argentina accounts for one, while Inter Miami accounts for the most recent four-goal performance.
His four-goal games also occurred across several competitions, including the Champions League, LaLiga, international football and MLS.
This variety makes the record even more impressive. Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals not only against different opponents but also in different competitions and at different points in his career.
Messi Scored 4 Goals and Reached Major Milestones
One of the most interesting features of Messi’s four-goal performances is how often they coincided with personal milestones.
Against Arsenal in 2010, it was the first four-goal game of his career. Against Valencia, the performance came during his 200th LaLiga appearance.
His four goals against Espanyol included his 50th league goal of the season, while the Osasuna match featured his 200th LaLiga goal.
Against Eibar in 2017, Messi Scored 4 Goals while reaching 300 goals at Camp Nou.
These milestones show that his four-goal matches were not simply isolated scoring explosions. They were frequently part of larger moments in an already historic career.
Why Messi’s Four-Goal Record Is So Special
Scoring four goals in a professional football match is extremely difficult. A player needs finishing ability, positioning, creativity and the opportunity to produce repeatedly over 90 minutes.
Messi has combined all of those qualities throughout his career.
The fact that Messi Scored 4 Goals repeatedly over more than a decade demonstrates his extraordinary consistency. His first four-goal performance came in 2010, while his latest arrived in 2026.
Even more remarkably, one of those matches saw Messi score five goals rather than four.
His performances also came against opponents from different competitions and while representing both club and country.
Conclusion
Messi Scored 4 Goals on nine remarkable occasions in the career record covered here, representing some of the most memorable scoring performances of his time with Barcelona, Argentina and Inter Miami.
From the four goals against Arsenal in 2010 to the five-goal masterpiece against Bayer Leverkusen and the latest four-goal performance against CF Montréal in 2026, Messi has repeatedly demonstrated an extraordinary ability to take control of a football match.
Lionel Messi Scored 4 Goals at important moments, often while reaching significant personal milestones. His performances against Valencia, Espanyol, Osasuna and Eibar further illustrate the consistency that made him one of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation.
