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Lionel Messi has been entertaining the football world with his incredible ability for a long time. The Argentine is definitely one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.
Ever since he broke onto the stage in 2005, the player has never ceased to impress football fans for a single moment. His fantastic footballing ability has captured the hearts of not only his supporters but also his fellow footballers as well.
Messi has been a specialist at so many things for the past few years. This season, the 5-time Ballon d'Or winner has taken the world by storm with his amazing free kicks.
He has been at the top of his game in taking free-kicks since the beginning of the season, and the numbers prove the same. In fact, the Barcelona legend has excelled in scoring from free kicks and by doing so, has raised himself to another level.
Therefore, let us quickly look at 3 stats that prove the Argentine is currently the king of free kicks.
#3 Most Free Kick Goals
Lionel Messi has been so brilliant with his free kicks this season. In fact, the playmaker has been troubling opposition goalkeepers with his amazing delivery of the ball. Defenders are becoming more careful against Barcelona because of the threat that he possess .
It is true that Messi can be very dangerous from any angle, with his shots always destined to wreak havoc, but the danger from free-kicks has multiplied this season.
The Argentine has scored 7 direct free-kicks this season in all competitions, more than any other player in Europe's top-5 leagues.
His first victim this term was Greek side Olympiakos. Messi curled home a free-kick which the goalkeeper touched but could not keep out during their Champions League encounter.
He scored another one against Real Sociedad with a fantastic effort from long distance in the 85th minute.
Ever since then, the Argentine has been going from strength to strength, with the likes of Las Palmas, Atletico Madrid and Leganes all tasting his wrath. His closest rivals are Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne who have scored 4 and 3 goals respectively.
#2 Scoring Free-Kicks In 3 Consecutive Matches
Lionel Messi is brilliant in so many areas. His goals, free-kicks, assists, penalties, passes, dribbles, mazy runs, etc are all simply fantastic. The 5-time Ballon d'Or winner has been really incredible this term, particularly at set pieces.
Messi shocked the football world recently, after he scored 3 amazing free-kicks in 3 consecutive matches, becoming the first and only player to achieve that feat in Europe this season.
He scored th first in Barcelona's 6-1 humiliation of Girona at the Camp Nou. The second came in against Las Palmas as the Catalans earned an important point in a 1-1 draw.
His third consecutive free-kick goal came up against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou, where he earned Barcelona an important victory by beating Jan Oblak with a brilliant strike.
#1 Scoring when Barcelona needed him most
Lionel Messi has established an amazing statistic this season, 7 goals from free-kicks. However, that record becomes even more amazing if you consider the impacts of those free-kicks.
The Argentine has been scoring from set pieces at the vital moments to help his team. So far, he has won close to 10 points for the club.
He secured 3 points for Barcelona against Alaves by scoring the winner with a beautiful effort in the 84th minute. He continued with another impressive one against Las Palmas to claim one vital point for the Blaugrana on the March 1st .
He scored an important winner against Atletico Madrid three days later as well. He also scored one in their 3-1 win over Leganes to secure 3 crucial points.
This proves the impact he has had in Barcelona's season because in games where Barcelona struggled to find the breakthrough, Messi's incredible ability has rescued them.
He has stepped up to score free kicks when his team needed him most and by doing so, propelled Barcelona to take the unattainable lead they enjoy this season.
