da 888： GOAL takes a look at the Inter Miami star's latest free-kicks and where he ranks among the best to do it
da aviator aposta： It felt like a moment of destiny, one that few players other than Lionel Messi have been able to conjure up quite so often. There he was, the player seen by many as the greatest of all-time, standing over the ball in another big moment. On his Inter Miami debut, his true introduction to North America, Messi buried a free-kick in the last minute to seal a win for his club in their first Leagues Cup match.
A moment of destiny, another goal that felt like fate. It seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime goal. Messi's first impression on American shores was him producing the impossible.
And then, just 16 days later, he did it again. Similar scenario, similar result: Messi standing over the ball, picks his spot, crowd goes wild. In his first four games in Inter Miami's pink shirt, Messi buried two free-kicks, with both coming after the 85th minute with the game in the balance.
Would you expect any less? Well, if you've been following Messi throughout his career, probably not. It's what he does, after all. But where does Messi rank among the best of all-time when it comes to those heroic set-pieces? And, as he adjusts to life in MLS, is there any chance that he can prove himself as the league's best-ever free-kick taker, even at age 36?
Two moments of magic
Even David Beckham couldn't believe his eyes. The ex-England star, himself one of the most iconic free-kick takers the game has ever seen, was reduced to tears. That's the magic of Messi in a nutshell, isn't it?
With the match level in the 95th minute on his debut against Cruz Azul, Messi stepped up to the ball. There was no way he could bury it, right? It was too Hollywood, even for Beckham's club. Storytellers couldn't have written it any better.
Messi defies storytelling conventions, though. A few steps and a pinpoint effort later, DRV PNK Stadium was sent into hysteria. Miami had won the game, and the iconic Argentine was to thank.
In the weeks since, Messi simply hasn't let up. He scored two from open play against Atlanta United, leading the way in a 4-0 rout. Two more goals came in the next round against Orlando City as Inter Miami took down their local rivals. And then, in the Leagues Cup round of 16 against FC Dallas, Messi went wild again, opening the scoring just six minutes in.
His magic moment, though, came in the 85th. Down a goal and needing to score to stay alive in the competition, Miami earned a free-kick. Was there any doubt what would happen next?…
AdvertisementGettyA master at work
Make no mistake: goals from free-kicks are an anomaly. There's a reason that some of the game's most memorable finishes have come from set-pieces. Think Beckham against Greece, Roberto Carlos against France, Cristiano Ronaldo against Portsmouth… all iconic finishes because every single thing had to go right to even make them possible.
According to , direct free-kicks only have a six percent probability of ending in a goal. That means only one of 17 free-kick attempts ends up hitting in the back of the net. For Messi to have two in four games? Almost too ridiculous to believe.
You can count his head coach, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, among those that can't really fathom what he's seen so far. “Many times there is a free-kick in that sector and only with him, and it happens that you have the sensation that he is going to score,” Martino said. “A free-kick is not something that is going to end up being a goal – 90% of the time, it is not a goal. But when he has it, it’s the opposite: a 10% chance that it won't and a 90% chance that it is. So we have to take advantage of that.”
Marginal gains
Even Messi, the greatest to do it, isn't above a little tomfoolery. Shortly after his game-saving goal against Dallas, video emerged on social media showing the Argentine's preparation leading up to it. Shortly before striking the ball, as the referee gave instructions to players in the wall, Messi repeatedly inched the ball over to the left. He picked the ball up several times, innocently moving it over just a few inches.
It's the little details, huh? By doing that, Messi was able to just move the ball into the ideal position for him to strike. And strike it he did.
It's no coincidence. Messi knew exactly what he was doing. He knew here he wanted the ball and why. Once he got it there, all that was left to do was find the back of the net.
Getty ImagesLessons from Maradona
It's hard to believe but, at one point, Messi wasn't even seen as a top free-kick taker at La Masia. And, it wasn't really until 2009 that he truly took his next step in the art of dead-ball striking.
Credit will go to his teacher who was, of course, none other than Diego Maradona. In February 2009 in Marseille, the then-Argentina head coach gave a lesson to his heir apparent, and that lesson stuck.
"I saw Diego coming, he took him by the shoulder and said: 'Little Leo, little Leo, come here, man. Let's try it again.' It was like a teacher with his pupil," Maradona's assistant Fernando Signorini told .
"He continued: 'Put the ball here and listen to me: don't take your foot away from the ball so fast because otherwise it won't know what you want.' He then stroked the ball with his left foot straight into the angle of the net, with Messi's face full of admiration."