Messi Caught Moving the Ball 'Illegally' Before Scoring Stunning Free Kick, Video

Messi Caught Moving the Ball 'Illegally' Before Scoring Stunning Free Kick, Video

Martin Moses
updated at August 10, 2023 at 6:07 AM
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  • Lionel Messi's prowess at taking free kicks is one of the many things he excels at
  • He has already scored two wonderful set piece goals for his new side Inter Miami
  • His kick against FC Dallas went viral after he was seen employing 'devious' tactics

Lionel Messi is as efficient at taking free kicks as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is at winning 100-metre races - fact.

Every time the veteran steps over to take a direct free kick at the edge of the box, the opposition camp is always fidgeting. He strikes them so well that there is a better-than-good chance they will find the back of the net.

Lionel Messi, free-kick, Inter Miami, FC Dallas
Lionel Messi takes a free-kick against FC Dallas on August 6. Photo by Juan Finol.
Source: Getty Images

So good are his set pieces that the manager of his latest victim, FC Dallas - Nico Estévez - avers that Messi taking a free kick is almost the same as any other player taking a penalty: the likelihood of it going in is greater than him missing.

When talking about some of the best free kicks the Argentine has scored in his career, a couple quickly come to mind. The one he bent against Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League semi-final is arguably the best goal he has ever scored.

What Messi did vs. FC Dallas

Some may ask what tricks the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner uses While his ability on dead balls is unrivalled, a new video suggests that maybe the former Barcelona man uses underhanded tactics at times.

In the free kick he scored against FC Dallas to equalise the tie, Messi was seen moving the ball to get a perfect angle to strike it past the wall.

While the referee was busy issuing instructions to other players, the 36-year-old was spotted moving the ball a couple of metres to the left, which makes for hilarious viewing.

He kept adjusting where the ball was until he was satisfied with the final position. Once the whistle went, there was only one outcome - another Messi set piece goal.

Thanks to the veteran's 'calculations,' Inter Miami forced the game to penalties, which they eventually won to seal their spot in the quarter-finals.

Inter Miami terminate Marsman's contract

Sports Brief also reported on Inter Miami terminating the contract of Nick Marsman.

The Dutch goalkeeper questioned the club's signing of the Argentine months earlier.

Marsman made 29 appearances for the Herons since joining the MLS team in 2021.

Authors
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Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)