On August 30, former NBA superstar turned sports analyst, Shaquille O’Neal, took to social media to hail Argentine football legend Lionel Messi. The four-time NBA champion marveled at Messi’s majestic free-kick goal in a throwback video shared on his Instagram Story.
Shaq is mesmerized by the iconic Messi free kick pic.twitter.com/dVuIjxlYRH
— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) August 30, 2023
Apparently, Messi’s 2019 free-kick highlighted by O’Neal dates back to the UEFA Champions League clash.
Liverpool FC defending their territory had set up a wall of defenders, but Messi’s masterful execution even the opposition’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot in disbelief.
For Lionel Messi, the goal marked more than just a tally on the scoreboard. The free-kick represented his 600th goal across all competitions for FC Barcelona.
In recent times, Messi has crossed the Atlantic to join the ranks of the American club Inter Miami in July 2023. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s transfer followed his two-season stint with the French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
On July 21, Messi made his debut appearance for Inter Miami.
Fast forward to August 26, and Lionel Messi made his Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season debut for Inter Miami against the Red Bulls. As Messi set foot on the pitch in the 60th minute, the stadium erupted in frenzy. In the 89th minute, the crowd witnessed him hitting a goal.
