About this goal
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.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 27/30
free kicks come and go but rarely do you see one that raises you out of our chair, and Messi manages it here.
Technical Difficulty 26/30
free kick technique can be practiced and learned but Messi is still getting better at it even at this stage of his career.
Uniqueness 16/20
Unique in terms of the sheer distance out from goal.
Importance 6/10
Proved to be meaningless in the context of the tie as Liverpool progressed.
Standard of Opposition 10/10
Liverpool
FootballCritic Verdict
Probably Messi's best set piece goal - but it's close.
Goal video
Goal scorer
Lionel Messi
Forward (Centre),Attacking Midfielder (Centre),Forward (Right)
More Great Goals of Lionel Messi
| Rank | Name | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
Messi, to Alves, to Messi, to Alves, to Messi, to Alves, to Messi, who then slots past the goalkeeper. Three one-twos.
Goal type:
Team  Watch video |
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| 14 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
Carlos Tevez swivels in the middle and sprays the ball out wide to Messi who takes a touch before the most glorious of scoops over the top of the goalkeeper and into the net.
Goal type:
Special Watch video |
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| 15 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
In the final minute of the Clasico, Messi slaloms past Ivan Helguera and then evades the dive of Sergio Ramos to lash across Iker Casillas and into the far corner.
Goal type:
Individual Watch video |
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| 16 |
|
Lionel Messi | Feb 23, 2019 | ||
|
Rakitic floats a cross to the edge of the area where Messi is poised, Zidane-style, and flashes a volley with perfect connection into the top corner of the net in a crowded area.
Goal type:
Volley Watch video |
|||||
| 17 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 18 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 19 |
|
Lionel Messi | May 1, 2019 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 20 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
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