When people think of Lionel Messi, they often recall his dazzling dribbles, curling shots from the edge of the box, and unbelievable free-kicks. But there is one aspect that most football fans overlook and remains consistently underrated even by analysts: his goal poaching.
While the “poacher” role often suits natural strikers like Gerd Muller, Filippo Inzaghi, and Gary Lineker, Messi’s role is more in the creative department where he reads the game and positions himself in high-probability scoring areas. Despite not being a traditional Number 9, Messi’s příspěvky include a plethora of “easy” finishes, such as tap-ins, rebounds, and one-touch conversions, due to his exceptional movement and anticipation.
The Invisible Genius
We all are aware Messi isn’t tall or physically dominant, but he is a menace in the box for defenders because of his ability to find space in the most crowded penalty areas. He often runs behind defenders being unnoticed and waiting for a cross or rebound to arrive. This level of intelligence requires a deep understanding of the game.
Many of Messi’s goals under the Guardiola era and different coaches came from well-timed runs into the box and converting low crosses from Alves, Alba, or Pedro. He was the epitome of the quote of being at the right place at the right time.
Quick Decision-Making
A poacher’s key technique is to take minimal touches before putting the ball in the net. Messi is a master at this, his close-range finishing is second to none whether it’s a well-placed finish, dinking it above the keeper with a delicate chip, or even a rebound conversion.
These finishes seem simple but are the result of a split-second decision with mind muscle memory playing a key role. If you notice, in these situations Messi rarely takes a glance at goal and finishes within seconds.
All about Timing
Unlike other poachers, Messi doesn’t score goals by standing still in the box, he is constantly moving and looking for space. These movements are calculated. He times his run as soon as a shot is taken or a defender shifts positions, looking to receive the ball unmarked.
An example is his goal in the 2011 Champions League Final against Manchester United where he scored with a low-driven shot from outside the box, but he also had two near chances from quick inside runs.
The Stats
Many of Messi’s goals, especially in the peak years including 2011–12 and 2018–19—came from inside the penalty box. According to OPTA, over 60% of his goals have been from within the 18-yard area, which proves he doesn’t just operate outside the box.
Závěr
Lionel Messi’s approach is different from usual poachers. What separates Messi from others is that he can create and finish both. This indicates Messi had a multidimensional scoring approach, he doesn’t just create, he also finishes. While in modern football being a poacher is a benefit, in Messi’s generation there were always comparisons of him and Ronaldo scoring goals despite being wingers. This indicates their ability to help their teams from all the positions on the field.
Czech 
English 
Spanish 
German