Two Give & Goes & a Messi Goal

 


Lionel Messi makes everything look so easy. In Barcelona’s first Champions League match of the year he slices through the Panathinaikos defense with two give and goes. Is Messi the best soccer/football player in the world today? Yes.

From a coaching standpoint, or if you’re a young soccer player watching this video: see how Messi remains calm and doesn’t get over excited as he drifts further into the goal box. Messi remains composed and finishes the chance. Often, young players will play a give and go or wall pass and then when they see they are about to score they’ll sky the ball up and over the goal rather than calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. It’s finding that balance of doing things fast and with an urgency but knowing to stay focused on finishing.