Messi and his FK: Complete Analysis, Study and Inference.
While we all know how good is Messi with FKs, let's take a look at his journey and evolution over the years to understand how Messi became one of the best free kick takers in the last decade.
While we all know how good is Messi with FKs, let's take a look at his journey and evolution over the years to understand how Messi became one of the best free kick takers in the last decade.
Although we can study Messi separately I am bringing 'Ronaldo' another amazing free kick taker in last decade for a comparative study and better understanding on Messi's FKs.
Ronaldo was a sensation during his days with ManU, he scored a famous FK against Portsmouth using his 'knuckleball' technique, and also one against Arsenal in the UCL.
Though Ronaldo occasionally goes for curve balls and ground shots he mostly prefers knuckleballs and Powershots which needs utmost perfection to achieve the goal. And now his accuracy has been dropping drastically.
However, on the other side Messi continues to evolve with his FKs, and that's because Messi studies and evolves every year. He studies the opponent to understand their defensive strategies like positioning, defensive walls, goal keeper study etc.
While Ronaldo's efficiency decreased with age, Messi became better as wine with his insane accuracy and free kick techniques.
Knuckleball technique of CR7 🚨
Knuckleball was introduced by Brazilian star Didi and he called it folha seca (dry leaf) which is used Juninho and Cristiano Ronaldo, where the ball would be struck with either no or a low amount of spin, causing it to swerve unexpectedly at a point near the goal.
Ronaldo takes Portsmouth with his stunning Knuckleball that drove the fans crazy as he embraced this technique.
Knuckleball needs massive leg strength and a little technique, Ronaldo did execute it perfectly hitting it perfectly between the players.
Look at his leg after he took the shot, so much power and lift to perfect the Knuckleball. And his standing foot gives him the absolute strength to go for it, which is why he runs from a longer distance compared to Messi's run for a FK.
The ball goes over the height of the bar but dips so swiftly with very minimum spin but maximum speed.
Wish we can see these Knuckle shots now
👑Moving to Messi:
Messi does everything in a FK, adds variety, makes things unpredictable, and sometimes goes for a finesse shot, a curve ball, powershot, under the wall, over the wall, through the side of the wall or even passes it to players (Suarez) thus adopting.
Messi does everything in a FK, adds variety, makes things unpredictable, and sometimes goes for a finesse shot, a curve ball, powershot, under the wall, over the wall, through the side of the wall or even passes it to players (Suarez) thus adopting.
One of my fav FK of Messi is this, a long way from goal, big stage, 2 goals up, amazing GK, but he found the top corner. The GK knows where Messi is going to hit it and he is ready to make the leap.
He goes for a complete stretch, at this point we all thought he will stop it, the ball isn't going as fast as Ronaldo's. Predicted spot, Comparatively slow, curve is predicted, but GK can't do much as the ball lands perfectly in top corner.
Messi doesn't run from long, he makes a short run, puts all the power in his last step, includes technique and placement also studying GK's behavior and mind games. Look at his standing leg, almost a twist/sprain thus giving so much space and power on his left foot.
And in recent times, teams prefer this scattered wall over a normal wall to stop Messi and that's when he passed it to Suarez and he headed it into the net
Some statistics to reinforce Messi's FK strengths in recent years:
Ronaldo had a great start early in his career but later Messi cruising up with a Nitro on his left foot.
Ronaldo had a great start early in his career but later Messi cruising up with a Nitro on his left foot.
Difference between Messi and Ronaldo was 26 during 2011-12, and then the Nitro was on for Messi and he gave comeback. This is because he said initially he used to just concentrate on how to hit it perfectly but then he started studying opponents GK and defense behaviors.
Messi became better as he grow by age, while it was a downhill for CR7. At 28, 30 and 31 Messi was out of the world.
Ronaldo's FK accuracy also dropped, while Messi is just reached his new benchmark of 13.56% on 2018-19 season.
Multiple FKs in one game
FKs are special but they are something else when more than one is scored in a same game. Messi and Ronaldo both scored 3 double FKs in single game over their career and all that came for their club games. Messi scored one of it in the Super Cup Final.
FKs are special but they are something else when more than one is scored in a same game. Messi and Ronaldo both scored 3 double FKs in single game over their career and all that came for their club games. Messi scored one of it in the Super Cup Final.
Inference
Unlike Ronaldo, Messi's FK stats is becoming more and more positive every year, meaning he is only evolving better where as it was a decline for CR7. Messi believes every player takes FK in their own style.
Unlike Ronaldo, Messi's FK stats is becoming more and more positive every year, meaning he is only evolving better where as it was a decline for CR7. Messi believes every player takes FK in their own style.
He said he looks at Ronaldinho &Pirlo technique's &use them at times, however, he will not change his style on FKs like going to knuckle balls or power shots like Ronaldo. He will continue to improve his curve ball, ground curve balls, finesse balls &strange FK passes in future.
Messi's graph and numbers will only continue to evolve for next 2-3 years and he will be the sole best FK taker in recent years then unless someone new comes and starts to compete with our little magician.
And this below image is just something else, look at Messi's left foot and how he stretches them, for a moment I felt like it was photoshopped but ain't. We all will miss him after he hangs those boots!
#Messi #FreeKick #FootballAnalysis #Analysis
#Messi #FreeKick #FootballAnalysis #Analysis
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