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In July of 2014, FiveThirtyEight published an article entitled “Lionel Messi Is Impossible” which attempted to evaluate Messi’s goal-scoring abilities through the use of statistics and data.
One of the most ridiculous findings from all the number crunching was how much better Messi was than everybody else at shooting from distance. In fact, Messi’s efficiency from outside the box was almost as good as most other players inside of it.
Turns out, Messi scores from outside the penalty area at a rate of 12.1%. The rate with which most other players score from inside the box stands at 13.1%. Not including free kicks, Messi had scored 21 goals from 173 shots at the time of the article.
As proof of Messi’s dominance from outside the box, the official FC Barcelona YouTube channel has compiled a video of the Argentine’s top 10 shots from outside the area.
Every single pick is an absolute gem of a goal, whether he beats the keeper with pace, finesse or a cheeky lob. These aren’t just preseason friendly hits either, we’re witnessing goals against Real Madrid, Manchester United and AC Milan in very important competitions.
If you’re like me, Messi’s brief retirement from the Argentina national team was a source of great grief. It reminded me that when the chance presents itself, watch Messi. Life is too fleeting not to.
There’s simply no one else on the planet who’s capable of consistently producing moments of magic like this.
Follow me on Twitter: @ConmanFleming
