Lionel Messi Received A Standing Ovation For Forgotten Wonder Goal That Never Was Vs Atletico Madrid

Lionel Messi once brought the entire Camp Nou to their feet for a goal that never was for Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.

Messi lined up for the Blaugrana against Atletico as a 21-year-old back in 2008, before he became the icon we know today.

But his talent was clear to see from an early age and Barcelona had raced to a 5-1 lead inside 28 minutes, which allowed Messi to turn on the style.

Captain Carles Puyol's headed clearance found the Argentine in the centre circle, who proceeded to twist and turn his way into the Atletico box before dinking wide. Check it out from 6:00 below.

Messi looked to the heavens after seeing it go wide of Gregory Coupet's post. What awaited him were over 75,000 football fans on their feet applauding the extraordinary skill they'd just seen.

One commentator commends Messi for being 'Diego Maradona-like' before Ray Hudson admits: "No it wasn't like Maradona, Maradona puts that in with his backheel! Lionel is absolutely brilliant, but he should've scored.

"They worship him, he walks on water and he is disappointed with himself. He does everything right. It's a wonderful barreling run, a wonderful disguise. He puts [Tomas] Ujfalusi on his back like a tortoise!

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"Wonderful here, he chips it over the top and is a cat's whisker away from it.

"The concentration, move, style, he's arguably Argentina's greatest since Diego Maradona.

"I thought he'd have it with a final twist of the dagger."

It was a season that saw Messi score 23 goals in 31 La Liga games as they won the title.

He also contributed with nine goals in the Champions League as Barcelona won the competition.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner is hoping to lead the Catalan giants to glory this season in what could be his final year with the club.

Messi's contract is up in the summer and there is currently no renewal on the cards.

A reunion with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City is still being rumoured after Messi's transfer saga earlier this year.

Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Lionel Messi, La Liga

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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