Lionel Messi's free-kick against Celta Vigo last season is one of many examples that his brain works in a different way.
The Argentine's precision from set-piece situations is so pinpoint that many teams have resorted to putting two players on the line to make it harder for Messi to find the top corner.
But with the footballing intelligence that he possesses, Messi had the nous to find an alternative solution against Celta in June.
The Galician outfit had a wall, a busy box and then players on the line alongside the goalkeeper. They were fully expecting Messi to shoot but he had other ideas.
Advert
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner laid the play on a plate for an unmarked Luis Suarez to head home past Ruben Blanco at the far post, completely bamboozling the Celta defenders and producing a genius assist.
The disguised pass from Messi was so good that we're not even sure if Suarez was completely aware of what he was going to do.
Messi has displayed the same cleverness from a penalty, also assisting Suarez with a pass that no-one expected.
Advert
Against the very same opponents in 2016, Barcelona were awarded a penalty that gave Messi the chance to score his 300th goal in La Liga.
However, with Suarez on a hat-trick, the Argentine deftly passed to the Uruguayan - paying tribute to Johan Cruyff's memorable spot-kick trick.
Topics: Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Celta Vigo
