Celta Vigo – February 2016
Lionel Messi’s free-kicks deserve a list all to their own, as his ability to place the ball exactly where he wants it is absolutely mesmerizing. One particular stunner came about last season in a 6-1 thrashing of Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou.
From about 35 yards out, the opposition sets up well for the situation. A powerful and curling effort will be needed to clear the wall and beat the goalkeeper. But Messi is more than up to the task
With only a few steps before contact, the Atomic Flea unleashes a sensational shot that simply could not be stopped. The ball is hit perfectly, and dips into the top corner at just the right moment.
Messi has had the pleasure of playing alongside some of the best when it comes to free-kicks. Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry, for example, are often considered some of the all-time best in this regard.
The constant comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo often give the advantage on free-kicks to CR7. But as Messi has evolved, he has shown that his attributes on set-pieces can leave the opposition running in circles just as often as his El Clasico rival.