UEFA Super Cup: When Lionel Messi scored 2 free-kicks in 9-goal thriller between Barcelona and Sevilla - WATCH

While Cristiano Ronaldo is often regarded as the greatest player in the history of the UEFA Champions League, his Ballon d'Or arch-rival Lionel Messi has the bragging rights over the Manchester United stalwart when it comes to playing the UEFA Super Cup. Messi, the joint-leading goal-scorer in the history of UEFA Super Cup, had masterminded Barcelona's last title success against La Liga rivals Sevilla in the 2015 edition of the elite competition.

The prolific goal-scorer had converted back-to-back two free-kicks for the Catalan giants in the 2015 edition of the UEFA Super Cup. The 40th edition of the UEFA Super Cup contested at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi was also the highest-scoring final since the tournament's inception. Inspired by goal machine Messi, Barcelona had upstaged Sevilla in a nine-goal thriller at the UEFA Super Cup 2015.

Messi's Argentina compatriot Ever Banega had put Sevilla ahead with a curling free-kick in the 3rd minute of the game. Barcelona equalized through Messi, who returned the favour by scoring a sublime free-kick in the 7th minute. Messi then bamboozled goalkeeper Beto again by scoring his second-straight freekick in the 18th minute.

Luis Suárez and Rafinha extended Barcelona's lead before Sevilla staged an epic comeback at the Super Cup. Goals from late José Antonio Reyes, Kevin Gameiro and Yevhen Konoplyanka took the match into extra time. Barcelona's Pedro Rodríguez netted a 115th-minute winner to end the goalscoring fest (5-4) in Barca's favour at Tbilisi. Barcelona have failed to enter the UEFA Super Cup since the 2015 edition of the showpiece event.

Barcelona's Clasico rivals Real Madrid recorded their eighth appearance in the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday. Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid contested the Super Cup 2022 with UEFA Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt at Helsinki's Olympic Stadium. Before the 2022 edition, record-time Champions League winners Real Madrid had won four UEFA Super Cups while FC Barcelona lifted the same trophy record five times.