Lionel Messi’s wonder goal against Almeria - Sheer skill or brilliant thinking?

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Almeria

The little genius was once again in the spotlight this week like so many times in the past. This time it was because of a beautiful curler he unleashed against Almeria.

Messi had somewhat of an off-colour game against Almeria, many of his through balls being intercepted and his dribbles stopped abruptly by Thomas, Almeria’s left back. Messi was dispossessed cheaply many times, his dribbles weren’t working. But with one sudden move to the left from the right wing, he warded of the defender and taking one good look into the goal, guided the ball into the back of the net, all with a ring master’s sense of purpose and control.

Throughout the match, the crosses that Messi aimed at Pedro on the left wing soared way past the touchline behind the goal. The wind frustrated Messi himself, but only a genius like him would decide to use the wind factor as an ally.

The same position from where Messi scored the goal against Almeria, he would have passed the ball or ran straight across the box 9 out of 10 times.

The Black line shows where he would have passed the ball 9 out of ten times. The Red line shows the actual trajectory of the ball.

It is the brilliant thinking and the element of surprise hidden in him which should be admired, as well as the inhuman skills bestowed on him. Messi galvanised a below par individual performance to an above par performance in the game with one moment of individual brilliance.

Here’s the goal Messi scored against Almeria: