That supreme second goal has (deservedly) taken all the headlines but, as tends to happen when he's on a football pitch, there was so much more to Messi's performance. Suggestions that it was an all time great performance are perhaps a bit over the top but nonetheless he was imperious, stupendous and whatever other adjective you want to throw into the mix.
The goal has been played and replayed countless times but let's just take a minute out of our day to appreciate something slightly more nuanced from the start of the game.
Ball played to him in the air, on the touchline and with three defenders stopping him from going anywhere. No one should be able to get out of that with the ball, not even Messi. Of course he did, without breaking a sweat.
The fact that he does something similar every time he steps on the pitch should not mean we become complacent about just how incredible his ability in situations like this is.
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GIF via /r/soccer
