Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona in the summertime of 2021 marked a turning level within the membership’s historical past. Burdened by monetary points, the Catalan facet entered a interval of transition, one they now seem like rising from, led by two stars: Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
Between the 2 of them, they appear to embody the qualities Messi delivered to the crew in his last years at Barcelona. Lewandowski contributes expertise, worldwide recognition, and prolific aim scoring, whereas Yamal brings aptitude, creativity, and a deep connection to the membership.
Nevertheless, there’s one key facet during which Barcelona have but to discover a resolution since Leo’s exit: free kicks. In accordance with AS, within the 4 years since Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in 2021, Los Blaugranas have scored simply 3 targets from direct free kicks.
Actually, through the first two seasons after the Argentine ahead’s departure, Barcelona didn’t rating a single free-kick aim. That streak was lastly damaged in 2023–24, when Ferran Torres scored in opposition to Actual Betis. In that very same marketing campaign, Robert Lewandowski discovered the web in opposition to Valencia.
Lionel Messi scored 7 free-kick targets for Barcelona through the 2017-18 season.
Within the 2024–25 season, the one participant to attain a free-kick aim was Pablo Torre, in opposition to Sevilla. Up to now this season, nobody has managed it. Notably, Lamine Yamal has but to attain from a free kick, regardless of being one of the vital technically gifted strikers of the ball in open play on this planet.
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What number of free-kick targets did Messi rating for Barcelona?
Barcelona’s poor numbers over the previous 4 seasons turn into much more hanging when in comparison with Lionel Messi’s free-kick statistics. He wasn’t all the time the dead-ball specialist he’s as we speak, however via laborious work and consistency, he regularly mastered that a part of his sport.
Over 17 seasons with Barcelona, Messi scored 50 free-kick targets. His first took some time—it got here in October 2008 in opposition to Atletico Madrid, practically 4 years after his skilled debut.
Up till the 2011–12 season, Leo had scored simply 7 free-kick targets in his profession, however issues modified dramatically after that. Steadily, he improved his numbers, peaking with an unbelievable 7 free-kick targets in each the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons. His last free-kick aim for Barcelona got here on Could 2, 2021, in opposition to Valencia.
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Messi is closing in on the all-time free-kick report
Lionel Messi’s expertise and progress in free-kick execution allowed him to dominate that ability not solely at Barcelona, but in addition with each crew he has performed for. Along with the 50 he scored with the Catalan facet, Leo has registered 2 with PSG, 6 with Inter Miami, and 11 with Argentina.
These numbers put Messi fourth on the all-time checklist of free-kick scorers in soccer historical past. The Argentine ahead has 69 targets from direct free kicks, simply three behind Juninho Pernambucano, who has 72. Above Messi are additionally Roberto Dinamite (75) and Marcelinho Carioca (78).
