Lionel Messi is considered one of the best free-kick takers in the history of football, alongside the likes of Juninho Pernambucano. However, the Argentine was not always a master of free-kicks. In fact there was a time when Messi’s internal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, had scored more free-kicks than him. Now Lionel Messi has 67 free-kick goals, while Ronaldo has 64 under his name.
Maradona’s influence on Messi’s free-kicks
At La Masia, a teenager Lionel Messi was never the favourite to take free kicks for his team. The academy did not prioritise teaching the dead-ball art either, as focus was more on understanding of the game. It was during an international break that Messi tried to learn how to take free-kicks. Diego Maradona was the manager of the Argentine national team back then. Maradona’s assistant, Fernando Signorini, revealed in an interview that after a training session Messi was leaving the pitch in frustration after he had missed multiple free-kicks. Signorini said he was called back by Maradona, “I saw Diego coming, he took him by the shoulder and said: ‘Little Leo, little Leo, come here, man. Let’s do it again.’ It was like a teacher with his pupil,” Signorini said.
“He continued: ‘Put the ball here and listen to me: don’t take your foot away from the ball so fast because otherwise it won’t know what you want.’
“He then stroked the ball with his left foot straight into the angle of the net, as Messi watched with eyes full of admiration.”
Messi’s free-kick record
Since this particular incident, the little magician became only better and better at striking dead balls. Messi became a master of free-kicks, as he went on to score wonder goals from free-kicks for club and country. Arguably, his most famous free-kick goal is against Liverpool in the Champions League semifinal. The magician struck a top corner from 30 yards out against one of the best keepers. The Argentine has 67 free-kick goals under his name at the moment, which places him 3rd in the list of most free-kick goals in history. Pele and Juninho are above him with 70 and 77 goals respectively. It will not be surprising if Messi climbs to the top of his list during the remainder of his illustrious career.