Messi explains logic behind his 68th freekick goal, but can anyone decode his craft?
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Lionel Messi is just two freekick goals away from emulating the great Pele. Argentine legend Messi scored a sumptuous freekick, his 68th for clubs and country combined, to deliver Inter Miami a 2-1 win against FC Porto in the FIFA Club World Cup at Atlanta.
Former Brazilian star Juninho heads the tally with 77 freekick goals, while Messi's nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo, has 64 goals from freekicks. The late Pele scored 70 freekick goals in his iconic career.
For football fans who have admired Messi's sorcery in dead-ball situations over the years, it was probably usual viewing as Messi curled a beauty past Claudio Ramos.
"I took advantage of the space left by the goalkeeper, who was standing still and not covering his post. I tried to score there," Messi said about his latest freekick goal.
While the explanation about his craft sounded cliche, it made perfect sense after watching the replays. The ball was placed in the centre, some 22 metres from the goal. Porto had steadied a five-man wall, hoping they could time their jump and clear the danger at the far end if Messi attempted to go that way, like he has done many times.
Anyone who's watched Messi since his FC Barcelona days would know he likes to get a good curl into the right corner with that divine left foot. Like most goalkeepers over the years, a list including some of the finest -- Iker Casillas, Fernando Muslera and Jan Oblak -- Ramos was clearly clueless which side Messi would pick.
But unlike most goalkeepers Messi has beaten, Ramos stood closer to the left stick, some eight feet away. Maybe he thought he could cover the distance by getting his 1.83 metre frame across with a good leap. The idea was good, but Messi's placement was immaculate, and even at a full stretch, Ramos could only watch the ball sail past him.
Inter Miami's win was their first against a European side. After the goalless draw against Al Ahly in their event opener, Javier Mascherano's Miami could reach the knockouts with a positive result against Palmeiras on June 23.