10 Smartest Goals Ever ► Clever Plays

It is of course going to be Leo Messi who hasn't scored all of his penalties so far this season. He faces Vicente Guaita and Messi with a penenca. Beautiful from Leo Messi. Eight minutes into the game Barcelona take the lead. A little touch of class from Leo Messi. Politely applauded by Gerard Piquet in the stands. Well it certainly was. You're always taking a chance of course when you do this but that's his league goal number 37. I'm not a big fan of these but as long as you get away with it. It's not only a penenca it's a left-footed penenca from that Leo Messi. From Messi by Roversio but it will be back with the diminutive Argentinian. Messi. Messi. A touch of class from Leo Messi. Makes it 2-1. Messi pulls one back in the second leg. Piquet goes over to talk with his manager. Leo Messi has scored it yet again against Betis. That's four in this tie of a Ballon d'Or winner. It was Messi's killer instinct. Tommy if this was a boxing match and you were the trainer of Osasuna what would you be doing with your towel right now? Oh the towel would be in. Messi. With the turn. Messi! Majestic. Magnificent. Messi. Horsa go nap. Osasuna. No. Osasuna took a nap. They've been asleep for the last 10 minutes. I mean they're just not fit to go anymore. Messi. Just pick your spot. That's all you have to do. And it's not that there's not enough defenders back there. Xavi. He's got Messi in support. And Lionel Messi with a goal and a half. How about that? Pure brilliance. And that's why he's a strong candidate to be named World Player of the Year. Well you can just marvel over the skills of this man. First of all he's got the technique to control the ball. To juggle around players. And if he sees a spot. If he sees a gap in and around the box with a goalkeeper maybe not be ready. He isn't afraid to pull the trigger early. There it is. There's the gap. Just passes it into the corner. It's a wonderful strike. You know normally you This is a classic case for him. Look it's a bad ball. He doesn't stop. It's a one-two with Silvestri. You know he never stops. He's thinking all right this is not a great ball he's played in. It's bounced back off Silvestri. He's on to it and can finish like that. He is awake to every single situation in that last third. He sees it before anybody else. Messi. Great feet by Messi. Brilliant by Messi. Magical by Messi. They like to say world class. But there's another class. There's Messi class. Which is better than any other player on the planet at times. Drops his shoulder past one. Accelerates past another. And just passes it into the back of the net. Fabulous piece of skill from Lionel Messi. Asensal. Then it's Pablo. He's left Pablo for dead. So much quality in this goal. But then there's so much quality about this player. He is absolutely world class. Go away. Go take a shower. The game is over. The people here are grateful. Because the game was won by Messi. And then the Argentinian national team. That's how it is. The barrier is high. There's no other way. Waiting for Messi's chance. And Messi is down. Goal. Goal for Barcelona. Messi and Pedro. It's Lionel Messi. There's always a danger. He deserves all the adulation he gets. Because he is something special. For Barcelona. They have absolutely destroyed. I think a good side. Atletico Madrid are a good side. Bojan. Outside to Messi. Messi onto his left foot. Clips inside. Takes it all. Comes Lionel Messi. And then passes it into the goal. There's no stopping him. Oh my goodness. Robby picks it up and saves it. Right hand side of the penalty area. And as he came in I thought he was going to hit it now. And then I thought go on hit it now. And he has 3, 4, maybe 5 opportunities. To put it in the back of the net. But he has the confidence and the composure. Just to keep going. Go past defenders. One after the other. This is the pass from Bojan. There he is. Inside 1. Chance to shoot. Inside 2, 3. Another chance to shoot. 4. And then he sticks it in the far corner of the net. And the composure. And the quality is there for everyone to see. This little man is an absolute genius. And this team is the best football team I've seen. For 20, 30 years. I haven't seen anything better than this. It's just magnificent.