- Brazil legend Pele slammed Lionel Messi for using one skill throughout his career recently
- Lionel Messi responded by netting two direct free-kick as Barcelona thrashed Espanyol 4-0 in Saturday’s La Liga clash
- Barcelona took to the social media to hit back at the Selecao icon after Messi netted his 19 direct free-kick over the weekend
Lionel Messi was at his best in Saturday’s La Liga clash as Barcelona thrashed Espanyol 4-0 in the Catalan derby.
The encounter saw Messi net two spectacular free-kicks before providing a top assist for Ousmane Dembele's goal.
According to givemesport.com, Barcelona’s performance on the night saw Espanyol remain second-best to the Blaugrana, who have always been their best in recent times.
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Despite not getting the fans support Brazilian legend Pele criticized the Argentine playmaker for using one skill throughout his career.
But in a quick response moments after the game, Barca's official Twitter account hit back at the Selecao icon via the social media.
Alongside a video clip of Messi’s perfect execution of free-kicks in the warm-up, the La Liga defending champions wrote: "He only has one skill."
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Speaking with journalists after the game, Messi went down memory lane, in an attempt to explain how he improved the art of taking free-kicks.
"I try to follow a ritual, trying to do it in the same way if it works so that it comes off again," Messi was quoted as saying by Sport.
"It came off twice but sometimes you take a ton and none go in. I was lucky enough that two went it,” he added.
Interestingly, Messi has netted 19 direct free-kicks in the last four years, which is more than what some clubs in European can account for with the same period.
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Meanwhile, Legit,ng previously had reported Lionel Messi set another record in the Spanish topflight after netting a brace in Barcelona’s 4-0 win away to Espanyol in the Catalan derby.
The 31-year-old Argentine opened scores for Barcelona from a spectacular free-kick at RCDE Stadium on Saturday, as the defending champions open up a three-point lead at the summit of the La Liga log.
Messi’s 11th goal of the season put him above others as he becomes the first player in La Liga to hit double figures in 13 straight La Liga seasons.
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