An insight into the place of Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi on the list of the 21st century’s greatest free-kick takers has been provided on Saturday.
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, of course, has taken his place in the headlines once more this evening.
This comes on the back of PSG’s latest three-point haul.
In their return to action on the back of the international break, Christophe Galtier’s troops welcomed OGC Nice to the Parc des Princes, aware that a victory would guide them back clear of Marseille to the Ligue 1 summit.
And, when all was said and done, emerge triumphant is precisely what the hosts went on to do, courtesy of a late winner on the part of substitute Kylian Mbappe:
Kylian Mbappééééééééééééééé! 💥
You didn’t think he’d let Leo Messi have all the fun? 😏 pic.twitter.com/H9iGgVeXG2
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 1, 2022
Mbappe’s close-range finish, though, only came after PSG were set in motion by another member of the club’s star-studded frontline – Leo Messi – during the first-half.
Vintage Lionel Messi! 💫
Kasper Schmeichel stranded, the Argentine makes it look ever so easy.
Magnifique! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yKEDJI8Cb7
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 1, 2022
And the Argentine icon, in turn, reached an altogether noteworthy benchmark when it comes to set-piece specials.
As per French outlet Stats du Foot, Messi has now found the net directly from free-kicks on no fewer than 60 occasions across his career to date.
This leaves the 35-year-old sitting 4th on the list of the 21st century’s greatest set-piece takers, behind the trio of Juninho Pernambucano, Ronaldinho, and David Beckham.
Most free-kick goals in the 21st century:
🇧🇷 Juninho – 77
🇧🇷 Ronaldinho – 66
🏴 David Beckham – 65
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi – 60(via @Statsdufoot)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) October 1, 2022
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