Is there no end to the genius of Lionel Messi?
The pint-sized Argentine conjures up magic with every touch of a football.
His mazy runs mesmerise defenders, he can pin a cross-field pass on a sixpence and his ability to find the back of the net is other-worldly.
The Barcelona superstar was at it again on international duty for his native Argentina.
His messianic (yes, pun intended) abilities with a football were on display in his country’s 3-0 victory over Columbia in the World Cup qualifier.
Messi scored an absolutely sumptuous free-kick just 10 minutes into the clash to put his side in the lead (then went on to set up the other two goals from Lucas Pratto and Angel Di Maria)
It was a lovely curling effort that beat the ‘keeper hands down, pinging in off the bar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5LpVRjgSak
But just in case you weren’t convinced of the mercurial genius of Messi, someone filmed him practising that exact free-kick before the match.
During the warm up, footage was captured of Messi lining up the dead ball in almost the exact same spot and curling it in off the bar.
We know they say practice makes perfect, but being able to replicate that technique later on in a game situation is pretty special.
https://twitter.com/acristofalo/status/798905743877423105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
