Lionel Messi: Epic fan footage of brilliant 2016 free-kick vs USA | OneFootball

The debate surrounding Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and which of them is the greatest footballer of all time, is one that will never truly be settled.

The pair have pushed each other to stratospheric heights over the course of their careers as records tumbled en masse at their feet.

It looked, at times, as though they were simply playing FIFA on easy mode as they racked up the sort of jaw-dropping statistics that even football romantics could never have dreamed of.

Messi has the style and magic, while Ronaldo’s ruthlessness and determination to craft himself into the greatest athlete that ever lived has seen him carve out a spectacular career.

While both make the business of goalscoring look frightfully easy, it could be argued that Messi does it more naturally.

From sitting the best goalkeeper/centre-back combination on their bottoms to running through entire teams, the Argentinean really can do it all.

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Which city was Lionel Messi born and raised?

Buenos Aires Rosario Mendoza Cordoba

He is also pretty merciless from the dead-ball.

While we can think of countless examples to prove the above claim, there are perhaps none better than his free-kick against the USA in 2016.

With Argentina already a goal up in their Copa America Centenario semi-final, Messi lined up a free-kick from range in the 32nd minute.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan gave him a substantial open side to aim for but, in true Messi fashion, the magician instead attempted what many thought would be the impossible.

He aimed his curling missile for Guzan’s side and, with venomous whip and dip, deposited it spectacularly in the top corner.

It is widely considered to be one of the best free-kicks of Messi’s career but, just in case you needed any more convincing, the below fan-footage that has been doing the rounds on Twitter might just get you there.

It’s just all rather astonishing isn’t it? Each and every angle makes it look better and better.

Argentina would ultimately cruise to victory in the end with Messi’s stunner forming one part of a quartet of strikes.

Sadly, from Messi’s perspective, it would all end in heartbreak as his beloved Argentina would go on to lose to Chile in the final.

Thankfully, we now know that story also has a happy ending after Messi finally guided his nation to continental glory in 2021.