Lionel Messi produced a moment of magic to score a stunning free-kick in Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile.
Messi let rip from 25 yards out as he picked out the top corner to give his side the lead on Monday.
With his trusted left-foot, he curled a stunning strike over the wall and into the back of the net.
Messi’s goal sent social media wild.
🎩 Just a magician at work…
💫 Simply stunning from Lionel Messi! pic.twitter.com/0ntD6YWlEm
— SPORF (@Sporf) June 14, 2021
🎥 | Lionel Messi vs. Chile
Messi did everything he could but unfortunately Argentina could not come up with a win. Great performance from the greatest of all time 🐐
— 🪄🇳🇱 (@FDJChief) June 14, 2021
Lionel Messi’s stunning free-kick for Argentina vs Chile 🎯
The 57th free-kick he’s scored in his career 👑#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/gA8biepTw1
— Goal (@goal) June 15, 2021
Lionel Messi’s free kick against Chile was his first non-penalty goal with Argentina in a competitive match since the 2018 World Cup vs Nigeria.
It’s also his first direct free kick goal with Argentina since 2016 vs Colombia 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AKvx41vNSK
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 14, 2021
Lionel Messi is now level with Cristiano Ronaldo in career free kick goals (57) in all competitions across club & country 👀
(h/t OPTA) pic.twitter.com/4915WTYI4l
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 14, 2021
🇦🇷 1-1 🇨🇱
Lionel Messi scored a stunning free kick, repeatedly dribbled through the Chilean defense and created opportunities regularly for his Argentina teammates.
Despite Messi’s intense performance, Argentina was held 1-1 by Chile in its Copa America opener #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/YTqv04aZPs
— Sports Freak (@OfficialSfreak) June 15, 2021
One tweeted: “Messi taking free kicks like they’re penalties again in the Copa America.”
A second wrote: “Lionel Messi with an absolute blinder of a free kick.”
A third added: “Messi doing Messi things. Too easy for him.”
His strike brought up his 73rd international goal. He also surpasses Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s top scorer in competitive matches with 39 goals.
Messi’s goal was cancelled out by Eduardo Vargas who struck in the second-half to secure a point for Chile.
Argentina resume their campaign against Uruguay on Saturday, while Chile take on Bolivia on Friday.
Featured Image Credit: Copa America