#2 Lionel Messi, USA vs. Argentina, June 21 2016
(Video Courtesy: ShivDes357 YouTube Channel)
The football world never seems to be tired of Lionel Messi. Everyone knows what he is capable of and still he manages to surprise them all just the same. Be it the dazzling dribbles executed with the smoothness of a butter knife or inch-perfect passes like gifts for Christmas, he makes it all look easy. And then, there is his dead-ball expertise.
The Argentina captain has already scored 3 free-kicks in his 3 appearances in 2017, showcasing a conversion rate which even ousts his efficiency from the spot-kick. A fine testament to his free-kick acumen came in Copa America, last June, against USA.
In the 33rd minute, with the visitors leading by a single goal, the referee awarded a free-kick to Argentina about 30 yards from the goal. Their captain took a short-run and curled the ball over the wall, into the top right-hand corner, a finish of such immaculate precision that Brad Guzan had a zero chance of getting anywhere near to it.
That goal also made Messi the highest goal-scorer of Argentina; a fine strike which would’ve made a certain Ronaldinho proud of his ex-Barcelona teammate.
