About this goal
Xavi's raking pass picks out Dani Alves at full-back and his first-time, volleyed cross is met by Messi, who heads home to complete the move.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 28/30
An absolutely glorious goal; Xavi's pass is on a sixpence, Alves' volley is awesome and Messi just has a simple task to head home, all without the ball touching the ground.
Technical Difficulty 26/30
This is fantasy football stuff, and for once all Messi has to do is finish things off.
Uniqueness 17/20
Goals where the ball moves this far up the field without touching the ground are rare indeed.
Importance 5/10
Rounded off an easy home win v Granada.
Standard of Opposition 6/10
Granada
FootballCritic Verdict
An underappreciated gem and also Messi's 400th goal of his career.
Goal video
Goal scorer
Lionel Messi
Forward (Centre),Attacking Midfielder (Centre),Forward (Right)
More Great Goals of Lionel Messi
| Rank | Name | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Xavi teases a ball into the area and the diminutive Messi leaps to an extraordinary height from the ground, his boot falling off in the process, to head back across Edwin van der Sar and into the net.
Goal type:
Header |
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| 18 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Messi collects the ball on the right flank and meanders his way across the area and exchanges a one-two with Samuel Eto'o before coolly rolling the ball into the corner.
Goal type:
Individual |
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| 19 |
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Lionel Messi | May 1, 2019 | ||
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Messi puts the ball down fully 30 yards from goal and strikes with such purity, curling into the top corner against one of the best goalkeepers in the game.
Goal type:
Free-Kick |
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| 20 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Messi has the ball in the area and as the Celtic defender commits himself he drags it back, Ferenc Puskas-style, before curling into the corner.
Goal type:
Individual |
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| 22 |
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Lionel Messi | Sep 30, 2014 | ||
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A blisteringly quick exchange between Andres Iniesta, Neymar and Messi ends with the Argentina sweeping his finish across goal and into the corner.
Goal type:
Team |
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| 23 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Messi again displays great strength to ease the defender out of the way before moving back inside the curling his effort into the near post beyond the goalkeeper.
Goal type:
Individual |
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| 24 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Messi had been on the bench for this but with his side 1-0 he equalised then produces this, a stunning piece of control and a sublime volley all while completely off-balance.
Goal type:
Volley |
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| 25 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 19, 2020 | ||
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An absolutely sublime team goal, Messi instigates it by passing around the corner, Antoine Griezmann flicks to Arturo Vidal, who times his backheel deliberately and perfectly into the path of Messi who arrives to slot home.
Goal type:
Team |
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