Lionel Messi's Free-Kick Accuracy Against Giant Robot Proves He's Not Human

Lionel Messi has proven time and time again this season that he is one of the best in the world when it comes to netting from a set-piece.

The 32-year-old has scored more goals directly from free-kicks in Europe's major leagues than every side except from Juventus since the beginning of the 2011/12 season, and that's just the start of it.

In March, he continued his sorcery from a dead ball situation by netting a stunner against Real Betis, not to mention another five free-kicks this season.

So how does he do it?

Practice is an obvious factor behind his ridiculous record, but perhaps its got to do with the time he came up against one of the biggest goalkeepers of all time?

In a rather bizarre challenge on a Japanese TV gameshow, Messi was tasked with firing free kicks past an inflatable robot.

Despite his opponent's vast size, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner made a fool out of him with his incredible accuracy from range.

He's from another planet, I swear.

Messi isn't the only player to go up against the huge robot. Shunsuke Nakamura is widely recognised as one of the greatest free-kick takers of all time, and he tried his luck a couple of years back.

The Japanese international scored so many wonderful strikes from dead-ball situations with his trusty left-foot over the years.

The former Celtic player is still playing at hometown club Yokohama F. Marinos in the Japanese top tier, but took time out to appear on a Japan TV show and put his deadly free-kick abilities to the test.

Image: Facebook

In what very much looked like a Takeshi's Castle-type set up, Nakamura had the task of scoring free-kicks against a giant, robotic goalkeeper who pretty much covered the net.

The 38-year old proved he definitely still has it by converting several inch-perfect free-kicks into the back of the net with his wand of a left peg.

Watch Nakamura doing his thing in the following clip, courtesy of Read Celtic:

Who is the greatest free-kick taker of all time?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Football News, practice, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Argentina, La Liga, TV Show

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_