Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and World Cup champion, has revealed his most cherished goal, and surprisingly, it wasn’t one of his countless legendary left-footed strikes! Instead, it’s the header that sealed Barcelona’s 2009 Champions League final victory over Manchester United!
“I’ve scored many goals that might have been even more beautiful and valuable — also because of their importance — but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favorite,” Messi announced on Thursday.
With over 800 goals for club and country to choose from, this pick definitely stands out!
The reason behind this specific selection is for a fantastic cause. That iconic header is being transformed into a unique piece of art by the renowned artist Refik Anadol. This one-of-a-kind artwork, signed by both Messi and Anadol, will be unveiled by Christie’s auction house on June 11th.
There will be a public exhibition period leading up to the auction, which will run from July 15th to 22nd. Christie’s themselves are suggesting that this piece has the potential for a “record-breaking sale”!
Anadol described the significance: “Leo Messi’s goal is more than a defining moment in sport — it is a complex expression of human intent, memory, and motion. By integrating biosensing technologies and advanced AI systems trained on data from that singular event, we are exploring a new frontier in AI art — one in which data becomes emotion, and memory becomes form.”
That header in the 70th minute secured Barcelona’s 2-0 win. It was a goal unlike many in Messi’s illustrious career. A chip from Xavi Hernández on the right side found Messi, who, despite not being known for his aerial prowess, leaped nearly nine feet in the air to head the ball past Edwin van der Sar! He even lost a cleat in the process, celebrating with his shoe in hand!
Messi expressed his excitement about the collaboration: “I already knew how special Refik Anadol’s work is, and after we had the chance to meet in Miami, it’s going to be exciting to see how he can transform a goal — a moment in sports — into a unique piece of art, like the ones he creates.”
The proceeds from the auction will benefit multiple nonprofits, including the Inter Miami CF Foundation’s global partnership with UNICEF.
What a story! Messi’s favorite goal, a header in a Champions League final, is now becoming a piece of art for charity! What’s your favorite Messi goal? Let us know!
