Lionel Messi’s top six GREATEST goals including stunning free-kick vs Liverpool and epic Bilbao solo effort

Lionel Messi is the world’s greatest player, after being crowned the Ballon D’or winner for 2021.

The shouts for him being the greatest of all time are growing louder, and it comes as no surprise that devising a top six out of 758 goals is tough.

Lionel Messi beat Robert Lewandowski to the Ballon D’or in 2021.Credit: AFP

Messi’s time at Barcelona saw him play his part in some sensational team goals, with assistance coming from greats such as Ronaldinho, Luis Suarez, Neymar JR, Xavi, Iniesta and more.

The greatest of all time has scored some wonderful goals in his time, most of them coming for Barcelona, as he has yet to really hit his stride at PSG under Mauricio Pochettino, despite scoring a glorious long range effort against Manchester City in the Champions League.

We have narrowed down 17 years of greatness thus far into just SIX goals.

Check out our six favourites below…

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6) Messi vs ARSENAL

Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal – March 8, 2011

Arsenal beat Barcelona at home, but could not stop Messi making a comeback at the Nou Camp.Credit: Getty

Barcelona were losing two goals to one when they turned up for the second leg at the Camp Nou in 2011, but the mini magician had a trick up his sleeve with a delicate strike at home to forge a comeback for the Blaugrana.

In typical Messi fashion, he picked up the ball inside the box after a defence splitting pass from fellow wizard, Andres Iniesta.

From here the Argentine seemed to just slow down time, and use three touches to dismantle the gunners. One to control the ball, another to lift it over the keeper, and a final touch to smash it into the net for good measure. This was Lionel Messi at his finest, and further goals from him and Xavi ensured Arsenal were knocked out of the competition.

This one just crept into our top six, which really is testament to just how good the rest of the goals in this list are.

5) Messi vs LIVERPOOL

Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool – May 1, 2019

Messi celebrates a wonderful free kick against Liverpool in 2019.Credit: Reuters

It comes as no surprise that the Messiah has some wonderful set-piece goals in his locker, alongside all those team goals and solo efforts, but this free kick in particular was special.

Another Champions league delight served up by the left peg of Lionel Andres Messi, the Barcelona star stepped up to the plate 35 yards out and delivered a first class strike into the top left corner against Allison – postage stamp stuff.

Whilst it won Barcelona the game, as part of a 3-0 victory, it was Divock Origi who stole the headlines after a ‘Corner taken quickly…’ by Trent Alexander Arnold.

Nonetheless, this is one of the finest free-kicks that the Champions League has ever seen, and therefore earns its spot in this list.

4) Messi vs BETIS

Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona – March 17, 2019

Messi scored a host of great goals against Real Betis.Credit: EPA

As Alan Smith once said “That’s why they call him fishy, because he loves the chips!”

La Pulga picked up the ball on the left side of the box and played a neat one two with Sergio Busquets. Upon receiving the ball back, he takes a slight glance up and eloquently dinks the ball towards the Betis keeper.

The keeper thinks it is going over, but Leo appears to bend it with his mind and move it to just hit the crossbar and cross the line, leaving Pau Lopez in goal in disbelief, as Messi wheeled off and his teammates stood with their hands on their heads.

This is one of a host of Messi’s great chips, he really was the master of this technical skill that can often leave players looking so silly. We wonder if there will ever be another as good as him at it.

3) Messi vs BAYERN

Barcelona 3-0 Bayern Munich – May 6, 2015

A picture speaks a thousand words…Credit: AFP

A picture speaks a thousand words with this one. A thousand words of the greatness of Lionel Messi.

Our top three is where we are really witnessing iconic, astounding goals. Lets be honest, we all knew this was gonna be in the top three.

For this edition of Lionel Messi: From Barca With Love, we saw him receive the ball on the right hand side from Croatian accomplice Ivan Rakitic.

He baits in Jerome Boateng, and effectively forced him into an early retirement when he sits him on the ground and chips the ball over Manuel Neuer with ease. He really does make it look easy, but these Bayern defenders at the time were the best in the business.

Bayern were no match that day for the greatest to ever do it, and this goal will go down in Champions League folklore.

2) Messi vs ATHLETIC CLUB

Athletic Club 1-3 Barcelona – May 30, 2015

Messi scored two wonder goals against Athletic Club, but this was the best.Credit: AP:Associated Press

Athletic club will have been dreading facing Lionel Messi in 2015, which was probably his second best year after the record breaking year in 2012.

And rightly so, the Barcelona star boy was red hot in the Copa Del Ray final of that year, as he absolutely destroyed them, with two goals in a 3-1 win.

Messi receives a pass from Dani Alves near the intersection of the right hand side-line and the halfway line. He then faces up to the Athletic Club left winger, and beats him with ease, progressing down the right side at pace.

He then stops. This is when the fun begins. It’s hammer time.

He shifts left and beats the full back, before tapping it past the left winger again, and sends a central midfielder spiralling with his dazzling footwork. Another centre back to beat? No problem, mate. He sends the left centre back right, and goes left, before fizzing a shot in at the near post.

Show this to your children, this is peak Lionel Messi, the GOAT.

1) Messi vs GETAFE

Barcelona 5-2 Getafe CF – April 18, 2007

The greatest Lionel Messi goal of all time.Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Here we are, Number One.

Picture the scene. It’s 2007, the first iPhone has just been announced and Irreplaceable by Beyoncé is top of the charts – exactly what Leo was to Barca.

In the Copa Del Ray semi final, Messi really lit up world football.

This goal was voted Barcelona’s greatest goal of all time, and they are one of the greatest clubs of all time – so it really needs no introduction.

If you ever need proof that you can in fact hear a picture, show the one above to a Barcelona fan and you will be met with ‘Ankara Messi, Ankara Messi, Ankara Messi.’ – the famous commentary that went alongside this masterpiece.

Leo nutmegs two Getafe players before he even reaches the halfway line, and sets driving away with the raw pace and ability that has not been seen since in a 19 year old. He cuts left and leaves one defender looking like he is on a slip ‘n’ slide, before dipping right and sending another defender for a hot dog.

He then breaks into the box and has the elite composure, that is rarely seen of a seasoned pro, to go around the goalkeeper and slot it over the top of yet ANOTHER sliding defender.

This is football heritage. This is Lionel Messi.

Honourable Mentions

Header vs Manchester United – May 27, 2009 UCL Final
Nutmeg and Chip vs Sevilla – March 17, 2012
Solo Effort vs Real Madrid – April 27th, 2011

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