You’d imagine Lionel Messi is running out of new ground to break with his footballing genius but the Barcelona star took things up another notch by scoring a ‘Panenka-style’ free-kick against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
Messi struck twice inside the last 20 minutes at the Nou Camp to seal the win for Barca in the Catalan derby and put them 13 points clear at the top of La Liga.
Messi’s second was a well-taken finish on 89 minutes when he turned home a powerful Malcom cross from 15 yards out, but it was the Argentine’s first goal that had the internet buzzing.
Having struggled to break down a resilient Espanyol backline, Barca won a free-kick in Messi territory right on the edge of the box.
The proximity of the ball to goal, however, meant that it would take something special to get the ball up and over the wall and trouble Diego Lopez in the Espanyol goal.
But ever the magician, Messi had something special up his sleeve as his dinked the ball softly over the wall in a ‘Panenka’ style normally associated with cheeky penalty kicks.
The ploy took Espanyol unawares, as Lopez scrambled across his line and Victor Sanchez dashed back in vain, only to help the ball into the net with his head.
Messi was credited with the goal, and his audacious strike had the more than 90,000 fans at the Nou Camp gushing, as well as the internet fawning yet again over a man who has seemingly taken Panenka penalties into a whole new genre.
With the victory, Messi also tied legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the most wins in La Liga on 334.
yuzceoruyz
206
If you dislike Messi, then you don't value any good thing in life, that's just how I see it, because * He's the most humble footballer out there * Doesn't brag about anything * He's never said he's the greatest player or best player or something like that * He's a family man * He doesn't dive * He's the best passer, the best dribbler and the best goal scorer and yet he has never hyped up himself to be anything... how can you hate this kind of rare human being, if you really hate this guy you have a problem with your life for real! I'm not a Ronaldo fan but I appreciate his greatness, of today's footballers only he comes second to Messi but on the all time list I have no idea where he could be, But for me Messi is the greatest ever and if you disagree it's your cup of tea not mine ☺
VanishPrasad
128
Players Lionel Messi mentioned as the best in the world: ❌ Paul Pogba ❌ Mo Salah ❌ Antoine Griezmann ❌ Harry Kane ❌ Raphaël Varane ❌ Luka Modrić ❌ Kevin De Bruyne ✅ Eden Hazard
Alesh99
75
Sincerely it's Messi's fault that some people still criticize him because he has made spectacular things look so simple and made people believe it's easy, Messi has really spoilt us with memorable moments that make us expect that week in week out, what some players do all season is what Messi does in 3matches...Gracias Messi
pusdkmosty
61
He is the greatest and he will be the greatest. No doubts And I believe he is gonna win MAJOR international trophies. Jst watch him and STFU