LIONEL MESSI has singled out his favourite goal from nearly 850.
The Argentina legend, 36, is arguably the greatest footballer of all time.
And his goalscoring record since bursting on to the scene as a teenager at Barcelona is simply remarkable.
He managed an incredible 672 strikes for Barcelona then added 32 for Paris Saint-Germain and has 11 in 14 for Inter Miami.
On top of those 726, Messi also boasts another 106 for the Argentina senior team – and 16 for the Under-20s and U23s combined.
That includes goals in the biggest matches such as Champions League and World Cup finals.
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And his ridiculous highlight reels of countless individual strikes include seven nominations for the Puskas Award, given to the best goal of the year across all football.
Now, though, Messi has revealed the one that sticks out above the rest from the 848.
And it is his superb solo effort against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the 2011 Champions League semi-final.
Speaking after winning his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or, Messi told Florent Torchut of France Football: “Well, I always say that special goals are the important thing.
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“To have scored in the Champions League final, to have scored now in the final of the World Cup… I don’t know.
“A goal that I always remember and I don’t go much for the goal and for what the goals mean, it’s the goal against Real Madrid, which we beat 2-0 in that Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.
“I think the most significant goals are always the most important ones.
“But for one I would stick with one of those.”
That goal in the Bernabeu saw the then-Barca superstar pick up the ball just inside the Real half.
He played a neat one-two with Sergio Busquets then breezed past midfielders Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diara.
Messi left Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in his wake with his mindboggling dribbling before squeezing a right-foot finish across Iker Casillas and into the bottom corner.
The Barcelona record goalscorer grabbed both goals on the night to set up a 2-0 first-leg lead, with a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp enough to see Pep Guardiola’s side through to the Champions League final.
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He was on target at Wembley with Pedro and David Villa also finding the net as Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1.
Messi also scored in the 2009 final win before beating Hugo Lloris twice in last year’s World Cup final victory – once from the penalty spot and then bundling home from close range in extra-time.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
