Messi’s wonder goal the talk of world football

THE comparisons are inevitable.

The squat Argentinean, the footwork, the surge past bewildered defenders, the rounding of the keeper and immediate, precise finish, despite momentum taking him away from goal.

If you haven’t seen the goal that is the talk of European football — Lionel Messi’s effort for Barcelona against Getafe in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night — then there is a reference point from 21 years ago.

But is Messi’s goal better than Maradona’s against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final?

Maradona last night expressed himself “very happy” after seeing Messi’s goal. Argentine TV channel TN quoted one of Maradona’s assistants, Gabriel Buono, who confirmed that the former football star — currently in hospital in Buenos Aires — could see the Barcelona versus Getafe game on television on Wednesday.

Maradona has long been generous in his praise for Messi, and the 19-year-old has answered with a mix of pride, humility and admiration towards one of his football idols.

Argentine television has shown the goal time and again, with Maradona’s 1986 version on one half of the screen and Messi’s on the other, to enable a better comparison.

“A work of art with a left foot and a ball,” said the Argentine daily Pagina/12.

Sports daily Ole shows Messi on its front page, smiling after the feat, under the headline “Like in ’86”.

Argentina’s best-selling daily, Clarin, also has the young player on its cover, with the headline “Messi — the day he was Maradona.”

Messi emulated Maradona’s winner against England in scoring Barca’s second goal in a 5-2 win over Getafe in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

Maradona’s goal — four minutes after he had scored the notorious “Hand of God” first — featured a long, dribbling run which left numerous England defenders and goalkeeper Peter Shilton in his wake.

Nearly 21 years later, the 19-year-old Messi dashed from his own half past four Getafe players before rounding goalkeeper Luis Garcia and scoring from a narrow angle in the 29th minute at Camp Nou.

Messi agreed his goal was “similar to Diego’s” but added he could “never be compared” with the former Argentina star.

“I saw the space, I had a gap and I went forward,” Messi said. “I did well. I took the goalkeeper on and scored. My aim was the goal and to finish the move off. I saw that Samu (Samuel Eto’o) was there, but there were two defenders heading back. I saw the gap and went for it.”

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, who gave Messi his league debut on October 16, 2004 when the forward was 17, described Messi’s goal as “a work of art.”

“Messi is a great talent. He has scored a brilliant goal. It’s true that it is very like Diego Armando Maradona’s, but I think Messi accelerated even faster,” Rijkaard said.

Messi’s teammate, Portugal midfielder Deco, said it was “the greatest goal I have seen in my life.”

However, Getafe coach Bernd Schuster blamed his team for not halting Messi as he began his run.

“We should have fouled him, he can’t be allowed to reach the area like that,” Schuster said.

Former Argentina international Jorge Valdano, who played with Maradona against England in 1986, highlighted differences in the two goals.

“Diego played with pauses and acceleration. Messi’s was down to breakneck speed and acceleration,” Valdano commented. “It’s impossible not to compare Messi’s goal with Maradona’s, but the comparison doesn’t turn Messi into Maradona.”