Watch: Messi scores 500th Barcelona goal to win El Clasico in final seconds

Lionel Messi. What more can you say?

Barcelona's magician curled home a perfect strike in the 92nd minute of Sunday's thrilling tilt with bitter rival Real Madrid, the last-second tally giving the Blaugrana a massive 3-2 victory in El Clasico that puts Luis Enrique's men right back in with a shot at winning the La Liga title.

Just to add some more weight to the moment - as if it was needed - the goal also signalled Messi's 500th with Barcelona.

Fitting, really.

The sweet effort, Messi's second of the contest, capped off an encapsulating edition of El Clasico, complete with everything that makes the encounter must-see viewing.

There was controversy; Marcelo left Messi bloodied in the opening half after connecting with an (unintentional?) elbow to the face of the Argentine. There was individual brilliance; aside from Messi, who has made superlative skills ordinary, Ivan Rakitic found the net with a left-footed rocket in the second half. There was physicality; Sergio Ramos was shown the 22nd red card of his Real Madrid career, leaving Zinedine Zidane's men with 10 men late in the contest after scything Messi down with a two-footed lunge.

End-to-end action, late drama that is unrivalled in world football, and a last-second goal that could prove to be the difference in the title race.

The 234th running of El Clasico truly had everything.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

But in the end, all that matters was that it had Messi.