Lionel Messi has disclosed his all-time favorite goal, which notably wasn’t executed by his legendary left foot but rather a header that secured Barcelona’s victory against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final. This announcement was made on Thursday, emphasizing that this goal from 16 years ago eclipses the many he has scored throughout his career.
“I’ve netted numerous goals that could be considered more beautiful and significant due to their context, however, the header during the Champions League final against Manchester United remains my preferred goal,” Messi stated.
He has an extensive tally of over 800 goals for Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. The choice of this particular goal is tied to a charitable cause; an artistic representation of the moment is being crafted and will be auctioned to support various initiatives. Both Messi and the artist, Refik Anadol, will sign the artwork, set to be revealed at auction house Christie’s on June 11.
A public exhibition and auction will take place from July 15-22. According to a statement from Inter Miami, sources at Christie’s indicate this unique creation has the potential to achieve a record-setting sale.
“Leo Messi’s goal encapsulates more than just a pivotal moment in sports; it serves as a deep representation of human intent, memory, and motion,” Anadol expressed. “By infusing biosensing technologies and advanced AI systems informed by this iconic event, we are venturing into an innovative domain of AI art where data translates into emotion, and memory manifests into form.”
This pivotal goal allowed Barcelona to lead 2-0 in the 70th minute, ultimately resulting in the final score. It was a memorable event in Messi’s illustrious career.
Barcelona’s Xavi Hernández crossed from the right, delivering a chip to the box where Messi, known more for his footwork than for headers, soared to make contact with the ball which was nearly 9 feet (2.70 meters) above ground, redirecting it past Manchester United’s goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Following the goal, Messi celebrated exuberantly, having lost one of his cleats in the process.
“I was already aware of how special Refik Anadol’s work is, and after our meeting in Miami, I’m eager to witness how he converts a sports moment into a distinctive piece of art, akin to his creations,” Messi noted.
All proceeds from the auction will contribute to various nonprofits, including the Inter Miami CF Foundation’s collaboration with UNICEF.
