Lionel Messi’s magical free-kick against Liverpool makes it 600 goals as Barcelona fans bow down
- Argentine maestro scores sublime free-kick in Champions League semi-final first leg
- Messi reaches incredible milestone – 14 years to the day after his first goal for Barca
With one swing of his left foot, Lionel Messi brought up his 600th Barcelona goal in magical style and seemingly doomed Liverpool’s hopes of reaching the Champions League final.
The Argentine maestro’s second goal on the night in Barca’s 3-0 win was a sumptuous free-kick that sailed past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker – and the Nou Camp erupted.
Home fans in the arena bowed down in admiration, and even Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted there was nothing his side could do to stop a player considered the greatest of all time.
“The third goal of Messi, my god,” Klopp told beIN Sports after the match. “The free kick, Ali [Alisson] was there but a little move of the ball and it was in.”
It was 14 years to the day since Messi scored his first Barcelona goal, and the world of football is still just as much in awe of the forward.
“WOW! Just Wow. Messi scores his 600th goal for @FCBarcelona with as good a free-kick as you’ll ever see. The little genius defies logic,” wrote former Barca striker Gary Lineker on Twitter.
“I’m honestly so grateful to be in the same era as Lionel Messi and to watch him live on my television,” Leicester forward James Maddison tweeted.
“Mr Messi came in and said: ‘Let me finish the job now’,” was former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s assessment in the beIN Sports studio.
Messi had earlier scored his 599th club career goal, bundling in the rebound after Luis Suarez had hit the bar.
He is now the top scorer in the Champions League this season, with 12 goals in nine games, as he chases a fourth European crown – his promise at the beginning of the season to bring the trophy back to the Nou Camp looks ever truer.
Messi’s great rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, had also scored his 600th club career goal last weekend – but it took the Portuguese 801 games, compared to 683 for Messi. Messi also has 233 assists compared to Ronaldo’s 199.
“We played really well but lost 3-0, it can happen against an opponent like Barcelona with the quality they have,” Klopp added.
“We played how we wanted to play. The first goal was not good defending. Losing 3-0 by making one mistake is a bit harsh to be honest.
“I’m proud of the boys, happy with the boys, it was really emotional. We stayed calm. What can I say, it was just a really good football game, probably one of the best away games in the Champions League we have played. I think the third goal makes life slightly difficult.
“We will try everything, but it’s not the moment to be really loud with that. When they come, we will play another game. I love watching these boys play football, they have so much passion. Each Liverpool player tonight can be really proud, I am. But yeah, the result doesn’t feel too good.”
