About this goal
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.
Ratings
Aesthetically Pleasing 27/30
The cross is a little flatter than Roberto Carlos' famous flip up for Zidane, but Messi's connection is just as sweet and he has more traffic in his way, too.
Technical Difficulty 28/30
Hitting volleys like this is one of football's most difficult skills but Messi makes this look easy, even with a number of Sevilla players - and a team-mate, in his way.
Uniqueness 15/20
Not a unique goal but one not often seen in Messi's back catalogue.
Importance 8/10
Puts Barca back ahead in a key away win in Sevilla.
Standard of Opposition 8/10
Sevilla
FootballCritic Verdict
A severely underappreciated and underrated volley.
Goal video
Goal scorer
Lionel Messi
Forward (Centre),Attacking Midfielder (Centre),Forward (Right)
More Great Goals of Lionel Messi
| Rank | Name | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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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 |
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| 11 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Messi shows superb strength on the halfway line to hold off the defender and skip past the next challenge. He then turns the final defender inside and out before lashing into the far corner.
Goal type:
Individual |
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| 12 |
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Lionel Messi | Jan 1, 1970 | ||
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Dani Alves' no-look, outside-of-the-foot pass is totally obscene and allows Messi to just apply the finishing touch into the corner. Glorious football.
Goal type:
Team |
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| 14 |
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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 |
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| 15 |
![]() |
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 |
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| 16 |
![]() |
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 |
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| 17 |
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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 |
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| 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 |
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