Lionel messi, the darling angel of the football world, represents his country in 113 games scoring a whooping 55 goals. In his last tournament (Copa America Centenario 2016), he scored 5 goals and assisted 4 others (in just 5 matches) to become the top goal scorer for Argentina.
At just 29, he calls time from Argentina national team after losing yet another final with Argentina. But, for me, he was the best player of the tournament as out of 18 goals scored by Argentina he was involved directly in 9. His mere presence was enough to cheer up the crowd. Even when he was sitting in dugout, constant chanting of MESSI! MESSI!! can be heard all over the arena. One glance of him on T.V and all over the world..
Here are the top three instance (actually, there are innumerable) which defies the odds
1. FIRST GOAL FOR BARCELONA, MAY 2005:
Messi made his debut appearance for BARCELONA at just 17 in October 2004. On 1st May 2005, he begins his quest for the excellency by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper from an assist by Ronaldinho. By this goal he became the youngest ever goal scorer for the club at the time. This goal was beautiful because he scored the exact same goal in that very match but it ruled offside. Even the assist provider was by the same player, Ronaldinho.. That delightful touch helped the team to beat albacete 2-0 and subsequently they won the league ending their six year wait of any silverware.
2. HEADER AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED IN UCL FINAL 2009:
Being diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency at an early age, Lionel messi stood just 5 feet 7 inch tall. Many says he isn't a complete player as he can't use his head. But on 27th May 2009, he did something which silences his critics forever. Opponents, for a while.
Xavi had the ball near the penalty box. He was jogging towards the penalty box, looking for a gap and saw Messi pacing towards the goal. Xavi shoots the ball though the air, over everyone else. Messi accelerates himself and before anybody could understand anything, jumps slightly tilted and ball was into the net. The best goalkeeper of that time, Van der Sar, could do nothing but see the ball going past the line. That goal imprints as one of the best finishes in the history of UCL, history of football.
3.FREE KICK AGAINST USA IN COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO2016:
Argentina were the favourite in copa america centenario 2016. They scored 9 goals in just 3 matches in group stage. They beat Venezuela, 4-1 in the quarterfinal. Messi was prolific in the tournment. He scored a hatrick against panama in just 19 minutes, coming off the bench on 62nd minute. He levelled the top goal scoring record with Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta for Argentina in the quartefinal. On 21-June-2016, just three days before his 29th Birthday, he scored one of the most tremendous goal from a beautifucl free kick against USA. In 32nd minute of the game, Messi was fouled by one of his opponent, 30 yards out from the goal. Brad Guzan, USA's goalkeeper organizes the wall (A set of players standing shoulder to shoulder in order to prevent ball from going past them) and himself for a minute or two. Messi stood for a while, looking for the space and the trajectory. He hits the ball with optimized power, not so high, not so low. The wall jumps but the ball was flying slightly higher, swinging at the same time. Brad Guzan jumps to his right with full potential but it wasn't enough.. The ball sailed over everyone else to the topmost rightmost corner of the net. Brad did his best, but Messi's best was way best'ier' then his best.. It was not Brad's fault... It wasn't wall's fault.. it wasn't anybodies fault.. It was just Messi at his best..
There are many more instances when Messi defies the odds like his solo goal against Getafe which is very much similar to Maradona's goal, his solo goal against Athletic Bilbao in which he dribbles past three defenders, his Paneka penalty and many more.. But these three, for me, are the bestest..
