Lionel Messi names Champions League final header vs Manchester United as best-ever goal
Barcelona ace has scored all types of beautiful goals in a glorious career but names 2009 clincher as his favourite
Lionel Messi has scored famous solo runs, long-range strike, free-kicks from almost anywhere — and even once with his hand.
But the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has revealed his favourite goal of all-time was a simple header.
Barcelona’s Argentinian magician was asked the question in and insisted he considers the occasion ahead of the strike’s aesthetics.
He said: “I always say that I consider the importance of the goal, more than for its beauty and so mine would be the first I scored in a Champions League final — with a header [against Manchester United in 2009] — for the importance it had.”
A 19-year-old Messi was already a member for the Barcelona first team when they reached the 2006 Champions League final under Frank Rijkaard.
But he missed the victory over Arsenal through injury.
However, when the Catalans returned to the greatest club stage three years later, Messi was the team’s star.
Samuel Eto’o had given Pep Guardiola’s men an early lead against United in Rome.
And, with 20 minutes remaining, the five foot six inch star rose high to hit a looping header above Edwin van der Sar and seal a 2-0 victory.
Two years later, the two sides met again at the same stage with Barcelona winning 3-1.
Messi scored his first-ever goal on English soil with his side’s second on the night.
He failed to score, however, when he won his fourth Champions League title with Barcelona in their 3-1 victory over Juventus in 2015.