Lionel Messi Proved He Lives In A Simulation With 'Greatest Goal That Never Was' Vs Milan

Of Lionel Messi's 688 goals for Barcelona, more than a few have been absolutely sublime.

But what about the ones that didn't count? Footage has been unearthed of an effort in a Champions League fixture with AC Milan that was cruelly ruled out for offside.

Getting in the way of a shot from a fellow teammate, the Argentine flicks the ball goalwards with a nonchalant flick of his heel and sees it loop into the far corner. Sadly, it's disallowed by the flag of an assistant referee. In the days before VAR, Messi may well have been level with a Milan defender.

Check out the footage below.

Amazingly, Messi has never won the FIFA Puskas Award despite being nominated for seven goals.

Meanwhile, speculation over Messi's future won't go away.

With the star out of contract in the summer, Paris Saint-Germain continue to be linked with the 33-year-old.

While some reports suggest Messi is all set for the French capital, others state that tying Kylian Mbappe down to a new contract is more of a priority.

Mbappe has scored 37 goals in 43 appearances across all competition this season and PSG, including manager Mauricio Pochettino, want to ensure that the 22-year-old remains at the club for the long term.

Image: PA

Last week, Barca boss Ronald Koeman dismissed talk that Messi could be heading for PSG.

"I'm not interested in PSG, I don't know if it's true," said Koeman ahead of Barca's meeting with Granada.

"I hope he stays with us. For me, he should finish here because he's spent his whole life here, but ultimately it's a decision that he will have to make."

Image: PA

Messi's former Camp Nou teammate Dani Alves also believes the Barca captain should stay put.

"I'e said to Messi several times: he was born to be a Barcelona player and Barcelona were born to be his club," said Alves.

"He has given me advice before so I can do the same to him. Once he told me to stay in Barcelona because there wasn't any place that was better. 'Where will you be happier?' he asked me. So I stayed.

"Now I have reminded him of that conversation and that a good friend [him] advised me that Barcelona is the best place ever. I haven't had an answer from him yet but when you leave Barcelona you realize how good it is. All the players, and I mean everyone, who has left Barcelona have been sorry. All of them regret leaving, irrespective of the reason."

Topics: Barcelona, PSG, Lionel Messi, AC Milan, Champions League

Thomas Harvey

@tom_harvey_