13 years since Messi's Maradona-esque goal v Getafe

Leo Messi, considered one of the greatest players in history, has scored 697 goals. 697 goals and he has assisted another 273. Apart from this, he has shown on the field of play that he is at the level of the sport's best ever players.

On 18th April 2020, it has been 13 years since a very special goal: the goal which got people comparing him with Maradona and calling him his successor. The day that Messi became a player who could change Barca's future.

On that Wednesday in April, Barca and Getafe were facing each other in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey which went down in history. Not only because of the 4-0 scoreline for Getafe in the second leg after losing 5-2 at the Camp Nou, but also because of what happen in the first leg.

Leo had a fantastic match. With Ronaldinho out, the Argentine put it on a plate for Xavi who made it 1-0. However, his goal was later overshadowed by Messi's fantastic goal. 

In the 29th minute, Messi got the ball in midfield and went past Paredes, Nacho, Belenguer, Cortes and Alexis as well as dribbling past Luis Garcia to score a brilliant goal. 

It was obviously compared to Maradona's goal versus England in the Mexico 1986 World Cup and Messi almost did the same in the 2015 Copa del Rey final versus Athletic Bilbao.

Messi made it 3-0 before half-time and then Guiza and Nacho pulled it back to 3-2 in the space of second half minutes. Gudjohnsen and Etoo restored Barca's three goal advantage which looked to have killed off the tie. However, Getafe won 4-0 in the return thanks to Casquero, Guiza (2) and Vivar Dorado to pull off a miraculous comeback.

 

April 18, 2018