Argentina v Iran, World Cup 2014 Group Stage
The 2014 World Cup was Messi’s World Cup. The Player of the Tournament carried Argentina all the way to the Final in Brazil before Germany shattered their hopes.
While Messi scored a couple of delightful goals in the World Cup, the one in stoppage time against Iran is probably the Goal of the Tournament and deserves special mention.
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Cutting on to his left foot after receiving a pass from Lavezzi on the flanks, Messi beat the Iranian goalie with a power strike from outside the 20 yards box.
It was glorious in the manner it flew in and gave Argentina, who had been struggling all game to get a breakthrough, much required 3 points in an otherwise easy group.
FC Barcelona v Arsenal, 2010 UEFA Champions League Last 16
2010 was a transition of sorts for the Catalan giants as they pitched Messi for the first time as their proper No.9. Expectations were pretty high and boy, did the little magician deliver!
In an otherwise incredible season, Messi scored 4 against Arsenal in the return leg of the Champions League Round of 16 clash, the 3rd of them being the highlight.
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Having scored two already past David Ospina, Messi who was chasing a first half hat-trick at Camp Nou after falling behind to a Nicholas Bendtner goal, was put clear through by a header from Eric Abidal.
With only the goalkeeper to beat, and two defenders closing down, Messi improvised to score from an audacious chip that had the stadium going bonkers.
FC Barcelona v FC Bayern Munich, 2015 UEFA Champions League Quarter Finals
In an age of power and force in football, Messi is all about sheer class and accuracy. His finishing in front of goal is as much an art as it is about smashing it in.
His goal against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League in 2015 is a testament to this fact as Pep Guaodiola’s Bayern were swept aside by a magical Messi.
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First scoring with a left-footed shot from inside the box, Messi scored the Goal of the Tournament three minutes later as fast counter attack culminated in him beating three Bayern defenders and keeper Manuel Neuer for dead to chip into the goal with his weaker right foot.
Jerome Boateng’s twist and fall while defending that goal will be remembered for long as Messi went on to make history with Barca once again.
FC Barcelona v Manchester United, 2009 UEFA Champions League Final
You won’t see Lionel Messi scoring a lot of headers, in fact Messi has very few goals scored with his head.
But, his headed goal against Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final stands out for the sheer brilliance and timing of the goal.
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Messi had to beat two 6 feet plus defenders,namely Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinard to adjust his body and score past a 6’5’’ Edwin van der Ser.
It left the opposition coach, the great Sir Alex Ferguson amazed as well as he later acknowledged that he never considered Messi to be the favourite to Xavi’s cross on that occasion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSRBmsQaBTI
FC Barcelona v Getafe, 2007 La Liga
Lionel Messi was only 19 when probably he scored the Goal of his life against Getafe.
Barcelona still had the likes of Ronaldinho and Deco to light up the pitch, but it was Messi who performed a nutmeg and dribbled past 6 Getafe players and past the goalkeeper as well to score with this right foot.
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A mazy run, the goal has sheer resemblance to Diego Maradona’s goal against England in the World Cup, the goal the world remembers the legend by.