Lionel Messi's greatest ever goal picked by Thierry Henry – "It is not normal"

Thierry Henry has picked Lionel Messi‘s greatest ever goal as he described the Argentine’s fantastic solo strike as “not normal”.

Messi has scored over 750 goals in his senior career, with the majority of those coming at Barcelona, and of course there have been some stunners along the way. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored all types of goals from solo runs, to 40-yard screamers, and even headers despite his height.

Henry played with Messi for three seasons as he joined Barcelona from Arsenal in 2007, and the Frenchman saw the Argentine become one of the greatest of all-time first-hand. And Henry has now picked what he believes to be the greatest goal that Messi ever scored.

Henry’s pick of the bunch was during a game he was playing alongside Messi in March 2009, as Barcelona thrashed Malaga 6-0 at the Nou Camp. Xavi opened the scoring before Messi scored a wondergoal shortly after, and Henry was also on the scoresheet that night, as was Samuel Eto’o and Dani Alves.

But it was that stunning strike from Messi that lives long in the memory of Henry, and the Frenchman’s instant reaction as he stood just metres away said it all at the Nou Camp. Initially, it was of course an exceptional goal, but it’s upon close inspection that Messi’s brilliance is there for all to see.

Henry recalled the goal in an interview with Marca, as he said: “The best goal I saw him score was against Malaga at home. It defied logic what he did.

“A diagonal ball and he controlled it on his chest, then runs at full speed. First player goes, second player is just behind, if he takes another step and then that player will clear the ball.

“But no. If you stuck the ball on your left foot here, how do you go back with that same leg and touch the ball in the air to make sure that the second guy cannot touch it?

“Then, he almost fell, he almost fell and he smashes it and he scores. Top corner. That’s not normal.”

HAVE YOUR SAY: What is you favourite ever goal scored by Lionel Messi? Comment below.

Henry won seven trophies alongside Messi at Barcelona, including the treble during the 2008/09 season, the year that the Argentine scored that wondergoal against Malaga. 13 years on, Messi is still playing at the highest level with Paris Saint Germain, and even won the Ballon d’Or for a record seventh time at the end of 2021.

His first season away from Barcelona isn’t quite going to plan though, as although PSG are on course to win Ligue 1 , they suffered a humiliating defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. The French side were leading 2-0 on aggregate with just 30 minutes remaining in the tie, but still managed to lose.

To make matters worse, Messi missed a crucial penalty during the first leg, a spot-kick that would’ve seen them force extra-time if it was converted.