About this goal
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.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 25/30
The left foot touch to keep the defender at bay swiftly followed by the cut inside is executed so perfectly.
Technical Difficulty 25/30
It becomes difficult to rank the various attributes of Messi's individual goals, but this one came just when his team needed him to produce.
Uniqueness 15/20
Not unique in Messi terms but for the rest of us, the type of goal that would be the best you would ever score.
Importance 8/10
Broke the deadlock in a key league victory against Valencia.
Standard of Opposition 9/10
Valencia
FootballCritic Verdict
The sense of anticipation when Messi gets the ball in that left sided position, followed by the unnerring finish, is wonderful football.
Goal video
Goal scorer
Lionel Messi
Forward (Centre),Attacking Midfielder (Centre),Forward (Right)
More Great Goals of Lionel Messi
| Rank | Name | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
|
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 |
|||||
| 18 |
|
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 |
|||||
| 19 |
|
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 |
|||||
| 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 |
|||||
| 21 |
|
Lionel Messi | Sep 30, 2014 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 22 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 23 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
| 24 |
|
Lionel Messi | Jan 19, 2020 | ||
|
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 Watch video |
|||||
