Lionel Messi recently shared that his favorite goal isn’t from the countless he scored with his renowned left foot, but rather a header that capped off Barcelona’s victory against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final. The star of Inter Miami, who has achieved significant accolades including the World Cup and eight Ballon d’Or titles, spoke on Thursday, revealing that this particular goal holds more weight than many others across his illustrious career.
Messi explained, “I’ve netted many beautiful and significant goals, yet the header in the Champions League final remains my favorite.” He has a remarkable record, exceeding 800 goals for clubs like Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami.
He selected this goal to highlight a charitable cause. The iconic moment has been transformed into an artwork that will be auctioned to support various initiatives. Messi and artist Refik Anadol are set to sign this piece, which will be auctioned by Christie’s on June 11th.
Alongside the auction, there will be a public exhibition from July 15th to 22nd. An Inter Miami statement noted that sources at Christie’s suggest that this unique piece could fetch record-breaking prices. Anadol remarked, “Leo Messi’s goal transcends sports; it represents human emotions, memories, and movement,” as they utilize advanced AI to explore new artistic avenues related to the event.
The goal itself was scored in the 70th minute, bringing Barcelona to a 2-0 lead, which remained until the match concluded. Xavi Hernández set it up perfectly, sending a high cross into the box. Despite not being known for his heading abilities, Messi managed to jump nearly nine feet (2.70 meters) to redirect the ball past Manchester United’s goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
As he celebrated, Messi lost one of his cleats but quickly regained it, showcasing his excitement. “I was already aware of the unique work by Refik Anadol. Meeting him in Miami will be thrilling, and I can’t wait to see how he captures sports moments in new ways,” Messi noted.
Proceeds from the auction will support several nonprofits linked to Inter Miami and UNICEF.
*i>Reported by Associated Press.
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### Fan Take:
This news highlights Messi’s enduring connection to pivotal moments in soccer, emphasizing that even the greatest players cherish specific memories. For soccer fans, it reinforces the sport’s capacity to inspire charity and innovation, showcasing how art and athletics can intersect to make a difference.
