MAY 30 (Sporting Alert) — Lionel Messi showed once again why he is regarded as the best player in the world after scoring perhaps the goal of the year to give Barcelona the lead in the 2015 Copa del Rey Final against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sol1xFSNiOA
The goal, which came in the 20th minute was absolutely outstanding.
The Argentina forward picked up the ball on the right hand side of the pitch and then sizzled his way past three Athletic Bilbao players.
But the tricks didn’t stop there.
After eluding those three markers on the flank, Messi glides inside the Athletic Bilbao penalty box before performing another set of tricks prior to finishing off his move with a low left footed shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The Barcelona star received praises from his teammates, who were left stunned by a quite remarkable run from the roaming attacker, who may have very well scored perhaps the greatest goals in the history of the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona lead the game 2-0 as Neymar added a goal to Messi’s opener in the 36th minute.
A nice build up led to Luis Suarez unselfishly slipping through his Brazilian strike partner who tap home into an empty goal.
Barcelona, who are going after a treble of titles this season, have already won the Spanish La Liga and are also in the final of the Champions League where they will face Italian champions Juventus in Berlin on June 6.
TEAMS
Athletic: Herrrerín; Bustinza, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga; Iraola, San José, Beñat, Rico; Williams, Aduriz. Subs: Iraizoz, Iturraspe, Clemente, Gómez, Susaeta, Gurpegi, Aketxe.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suárez, Neymar. Subs: Xavi, Pedro, Rafinha, Bravo, Bartra, Adriano, Mathieu.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo.
