Foot nostalgia: When Lionel Messi imitated Diego Maradona

Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are very similar. Both Argentines, they wore - and this is still the case for "la Pulga" - the FC Barcelona jersey; on the lawn they evolve to the position of attacker or winger and they are practically the same size, namely 170 centimeters for Messi and 165 centimeters for Maradona. Because of this resemblance, the native of Rosario was quickly compared to the author of "the hand of God". And in April 2007, the one who started his professional career in 2004 got closer to his illustrious predecessor by scoring a goal similar to that scored by the ex-Napoli player against England, in the quarterfinals from the 1986 World Cup.

Lionel Messi's magnificent goal against Getafe

On April 18, 2007 against Getafe, Messi inherited the ball in his court, on the right side. He eliminates a first opponent from an outside hook on the left foot, before making a small bridge on a second. It accelerates and pierces the remaining defensive curtain with two new short hooks. The Argentinian stands in front of the porter from Getafe. He pretends to open his left foot to make a flat on the foot, and finally eliminates the goalkeeper ... before pushing the ball into the back of the net with the right foot. A splendid goal! "This is the best goal I have ever seen," said his teammate Deco after the match, in comments relayed in the book Magic Messi . Getafe coach Bernd Schuster is flabbergasted, but for another reason: “We should have stopped him with a kick even if it cost us a box. We cannot afford to be so noble, ”he said at the end of the meeting.

The comparison between Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona

What fascinated, beyond the incredible physical and technical performance, is the resemblance of this achievement with the goal of Maradona registered 21 years earlier. The authors of Magic Messi , Luca Caioli and Sophie Bustos compared the two goals statistically. And despite points in common, they also have differences. “Leo takes 12 seconds, against Diego's 10.8; it covers 60 meters in front of 62 de l'Aztèque; 13 contacts with the ball against the 12 of el Pelusa; he dribbles 5 opponents while Maradona leaves 6 English on the way ”. A difference in the facts but one resembles in the legend.

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