Lionel Messi scored a stunning effort to put Paris Saint-Germain ahead in Wednesday evening's Champions League clash at Benfica.
It was a superb, curling finish from the Argentine to cap a flowing team move from Les Parisiens after Benfica started the stronger. It was a move that involved both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, with their wonderful link-up play finding Messi - who produced the outrageous finish.
It was a flowing team move that began in earnest with wing-back Achraf Hakimi on the right flank, as he cut inside to find midfielder Vitinha who immediately looked up to find Messi. The former Barcelona star then drove forward at the Benfica defence and passed it to the feet of Mbappe, with his back to goal.
Mbappe took one touch and played the ball left to the advancing Neymar, who found Messi with a first-time pass. He then whipped the ball into the corner of the net, giving Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos no chance.
It was a superb team move by PSG as Christophe Galtier's side hoped to continue their 100 per cent winning record in the group stage, having already defeated Juventus and Maccabi Haifa this campaign. However, Portuguese giants Benfica were their toughest test of the season to date.
The Lisbon-based side had also won both of their opening group games, including an impressive win from behind away to Juventus in Turin in matchday two, and they had started this game the stronger – bombarding PSG's goal with multiple attempts before being hit by the sucker-punch.
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Messi's goal was his second in the Champions League this season while he is just one goal shy of equalling his tally for the entirety of the last campaign in Ligue 1 – having found the net five times in the division this campaign. The 35-year-old has now also netted eight goals in his last six matches for club and country.
The forward scored in PSG's Champions League victory at Maccabi Haifa before netting the only goal of the game as Christophe Galtier's team earned a slender victory at Olympique Lyonnais before the international break and then opened the scoring against Nice on Saturday with a stunning free-kick.
Messi's form in front of goal was also on show for Argentina, as he netted a brace for Lionel Scaloni's side against Honduras before bagging a double against Jamaica – both friendly matches coming in preparation ahead of this winter's World Cup finals in Qatar.
