⚽️💥 According to Opta, Messi's strike against Philadelphia Union was the longest range *open play* goal of his club career.
But has he scored from further out for Argentina? Let's take a look at some of Messi's longest strikes...
But has he scored from further out for Argentina? Let's take a look at some of Messi's longest strikes...
Firstly, there is some conflicting info about the distance of Messi's Philly strike, with @OptaJack reporting 36.3 yards, while @OptaJavier said 31.8 metres, which don't seem to align.
🆚 Philadelphia, 2023
📽️ youtu.be
🆚 Philadelphia, 2023
📽️ youtu.be
The Mallorca goal they refer to, the furthest Messi has ever scored from at club level, was a free kick in 2012.
However, it wasn't your typical long range screamer... it was a cross that went all the way in!
🆚 Mallorca, 2012
📽️ youtu.be
However, it wasn't your typical long range screamer... it was a cross that went all the way in!
🆚 Mallorca, 2012
📽️ youtu.be
He has scored two other particularly long range free kicks at club level, and this time they're both stunners!
🆚 Real Sociedad, 2018
📽️ youtu.be
🆚 Liverpool, 2019
📽️ youtube.com
🆚 Real Sociedad, 2018
📽️ youtu.be
🆚 Liverpool, 2019
📽️ youtube.com
A couple more of Messi's longer range open play goals at club level were...
🆚 PSG, 2021
youtu.be
🆚 Troyes, 2022
youtube.com
🆚 PSG, 2021
youtu.be
🆚 Troyes, 2022
youtube.com
I don't have the exact distance data for his goals, but his longest range free kick and his longest range open play goal might well be for Argentina... 🇦🇷
Read on 👇
Read on 👇
🥇🎯 His longest distance free kick looks undoubtedly to be this strike for Argentina against Paraguay in a 2012 World Cup Qualifier.
🆚 Paraguay, 2012
📽️ youtube.com
🆚 Paraguay, 2012
📽️ youtube.com
In terms of open play goals, this one against Uruguay is debatable...
Camera angles can play tricks on you, but to the naked eye it doesn't quite look as far out as the Philadelphia strike.
🆚 Uruguay, 2021
📽️ youtu.be
Camera angles can play tricks on you, but to the naked eye it doesn't quite look as far out as the Philadelphia strike.
🆚 Uruguay, 2021
📽️ youtu.be
...it is quite a bit wider though and looks a very similar spot to the Mallorca free kick which is billed as his furthest club goal...
It also shares another similarity with the Mallorca goal, as it was a lobbed throughball that deceived the keeper and bounced in!
It also shares another similarity with the Mallorca goal, as it was a lobbed throughball that deceived the keeper and bounced in!
Are there any Messi long rangers you think have been missed from this thread? Let me know! 👇
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