Lionel Messi has revealed what his favourite goal he has scored is – but he has changed his mind.
Messi, 37, is currently playing for Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami and has already scored 33 goals in 37 appearances for the side co-owned by David Beckham.
His impressive numbers have increased his overall career tally to 849 goals, but he explained how one particular strike stands above the rest.
Given the sheer number of goals he has scored, the fact Messi can even remember them all is an achievement in its own right.
The Argentine has scored in some pivotal games at the club level for Barcelona, PSG and Miami, with two World Cup final goals – against France in 2022- among his tally of 112 goals for Argentina.
But surprisingly, his strikes in Qatar did not get the nod when asked what his favourite throughout his career was.
In an interview with France Football in 2023, Messi finally revealed his choice.
“I always say that the most special goals are the important ones,” he explained.
“To have scored a goal in the Champions League final or to have scored in the World Cup final is very special.
Lionel Messi previously chose a goal in the 2009 Champions League final but has changed his mind (Credit:Getty)
“A goal that I always remember and that I really like because of what it meant, is the goal I scored against Real Madrid when we beat them 0-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League semi-finals [in 2010].
“But, to tell you one, I would stick with that one.”
Messi’s solo effort against Madrid doubled Barca’s lead and handed the Catalans the advantage going into the second leg.
The Argentine received the ball from Sergio Busquets just past the halfway line before embarking on a slaloming run past four helpless Madrid players then he slotted a right-footed shot past Iker Casillas in the Madrid goal.
However, previously, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner had mentioned that another goal was his favourite.
“The one from the Champions League final against Manchester [United], with a header,” he told Mundo Deportivo in 2018.
This was one of Messi’s earliest crowning moments, as he helped secure Barcelona’s third European Cup/Champions League in Rome. The goal was not a ‘typical Messi’ goal as midfielder Xavi played a perfectly placed lofted ball towards Messi, who curled a header beyond the grasp of United’s keeper Edwin van der Sar.