Just when you thought that Lionel Messi’s goal against Athletic Bilbao last weekend couldn’t get any more impressive, the swots get involved.
The sports scientists over at ESPN have analysed the tremendous solo run and their data proves just how wondrous a feat of athleticism it was.
They found that the little magician showed acceleration to match that of Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles as he went from 0-19 mph in just 2.7 seconds.
The control that Messi maintained is also flabbergasting as the analysis found that the ball only left his feet by more than two feet on two occasions throughout the dribble and that the Argentine needed just 1.2 seconds to beat the three Bilbao men on the near sideline.
But perhaps the most impressive element of the goal comes with the shot itself as the scientists found that, had Messi been more than 1.5mm off when striking the ball, it wouldn’t have gone in.
So, the hypothesis is… Messi’s good at football.
