We are now accustomed to the brilliance of Lionel Messi, so much so we even take it for granted.
And on April 18, 2007 in a Copa del Rey match between Barcelona and Getafe the magician created something that set the standard for what was to come in the following 10 years of Messi magic.
Then 19, the Argentine was known as one of the brightest young talents in world football but this was something else.
This was artistry like few had seen before and it was the moment Messi near perfectly replicated the brilliance of Diego Maradona, a man he has been likened to his entire life.
Picking the ball up on the halfway line, Messi dances past two defenders before hurtling towards the penalty area with the ball at his feet.
A split second later and he’s gone past another defender, sat a fourth on his backside and then rounded the goalkeeper before finding the back of the net.
It is a stunning passage of play, eerily similar to Maradona’s effort against England at the 1986 World Cup.
Comparisons were instantly drawn and, as you can see in the video from Barcelona’s official YouTube channel below, Messi was flattered to be held up against his idol and delighted with this moment of beauty.
