• Lionel Messi showed off his unreal ability to control a football with his opening goal against Nigeria on Tuesday.
  • In just fractions of a second, Messi made multiple decisions that resulted in two perfect touches on the ball, putting him in position to give his team a 1-0 lead.
  • Argentina went on to win and escape to the knockout round of the 2018 World Cup.

For the past decade, Argentina’s Lionel Messi has been widely considered one of the two greatest football players on the planet, along with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, and with just one play on Tuesday, he concisely showed why the recognition is so deserved.

Playing in a must-win World Cup match against Nigeria, Messi scored the opening goal of the game, brilliantly receiving a pass from Éver Banega and confidently depositing the ball in the back of the net.

The play is quite remarkable in real time, but subsequent replays really highlight Messi’s brilliance.

First, one must consider where the pass was coming from and when Messi decided to start his run.

Messi run

Foto: Messi's vision and anticipation are what make him one of the best to ever play the game. source Fox

Banega is at midfield, and Messi is not that far out in front of him, but he sees an open alley and decides to make his run. Recognizing this, Banega launches one in Messi's direction in whatever window he can find, threading a needle to put the ball right on his teammate.

What sets Messi apart from so many other players in this moment is his ability to receive the ball, adjust his body, and get off a strike in just fractions of a second.

Messi settles the ball

Foto: With only a moment to take advantage, Messi perfectly played the ball to himself. source Fox

With both a defender and the opposing goalie closing in fast, Messi has only one chance to settle the ball and take his shot. Receiving the ball over his shoulder, Messi tucks the ball into his possession with a quick touch of his thigh, placing the ball perfectly for his next move.

Lionel Messi brings ball in

Foto: It required only one touch for Messi to take control. source Fox

Thanks to Banega's unreal placement and Messi's unmatched ability to take a ball into his own control, Messi is now a threat. After bringing the ball in, he makes one more touch on the ball to put it ahead of him without breaking stride.

Messi settles

Foto: An unreal second touch by Messi. source Fox

Messi's second touch here moves the ball enough outside to keep it away from the oncoming defender but close enough to maintain his angle on the goal. With his next touch, he buries the ball in the back of the net.

Messi goal

Foto: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLL. source Fox

Here is video of the goal.

Here's another version, for readers in other countries blocked by Fox:

With the goal, Argentina took a 1-0 lead over Nigeria in a match it went on to win, escaping the group stage in dramatic fashion.

The play was a reminder as to why Messi is considered one of the best to ever play the game, and people took notice.

https://twitter.com/jperkovic93/status/1011714214183014406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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