Lionel Messi didn’t have his best game for Paris Saint-Germain during their 4-3 win over Lille OSC on Sunday at the Parc des Princes. However, the 35-year-old showed up when the capital club needed him.
PSG was down 3-2 after leading 2-0 early in the contest. Nonetheless, Kylian Mbappe would level the scoring 3-3, then, in stoppage time, Messi provided the magical heroics.
Messi also hit some impressive statistical feats with the fantastic free-kick goal. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner reached 39 free-kick goals since the 2010-11 season, and he comfortably leads the ranking of the best kickers in the five major leagues.
Cristiano Ronaldo is next on the list, with 23 goals scored from a free-kick position, but there’s still a sizable gap between the two players.
¡LIONEL, TOP ENTRE LOS TOPS! 🔥
▶ Con su gol en el último minuto para el PSG, Messi llegó a 39 tantos de tiro libre desde la temporada 2010/2011 y lidera muy cómodo el ranking de los mejores pateadores de las 5 grandes ligas.
¿Quedan dudas? 🔝 pic.twitter.com/PYEqmIjYNe
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) February 19, 2023
Additionally, Messi tied Argentine football legend Diego Armando Maradona on the number of goals scored from free kicks with 61 throughout his professional career.
¡LIONEL ALCANZÓ A DIEGO! 🔥
▶ Con su nuevo gol de tiro libre para el PSG, Leo Messi igualó a Maradona en el número de tantos por esa vía.
ℹ Son los jugadores argentinos con más goles de tiro libre de la historia.
¡LEYENDAS! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/z9a0fOgFuS
— TNT Sports Argentina (@TNTSportsAR) February 19, 2023
Messi has plenty of football left in his boots, so he’s sure to extend his lead on Ronaldo and break the tie with Maradona.
