It was fun to watch Lionel Messi in the Champions League again, wasn’t it?The Argentinian was superb as he helped Barcelona reach the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Napoli on Saturday.Messi scored once, had a goal disallowed and also won a penalty - all in the first half - in a world-class display at Camp Nou.“He’s just a genius,” said BT Sport pundit Peter Crouch after Messi’s first goal, in which he went down inside the box before climbing back up to fire past Napoli’s David Ospina.Crouch added, per the Daily Mail: “He's the only player in the world who can get up and have three unbelievable touches and curl it in.”
It was another highlight-reel moment from the 33-year-old, who is attempting to lead Barcelona to their first Champions League triumph since 2015.Honestly, how do I tell my grandkids that Messi scored from here?
Messi’s goal was good enough to rank fifth in GiveMeSport’s article on the greatest solo goals of his career.But with Peter Drury’s commentary, it might place even higher.With his iconic voice and natural excitement, as well as his beautiful way with words, Drury is widely viewed as one of the best commentators out there.And he certainly delivered when Messi stunned Napoli.“He is just a conjuror, a ripper-up of reason, a dream machine, a perennial seizer of the day,” Drury says.Outstanding.
We can’t mention Drury without bringing up perhaps his greatest line ever, when Messi and Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Roma in 2018."Roma have risen from their ruins! Manolas, the Greek God in Rome! The unthinkable unfolds before our eyes," he said after Kostas Manolas' late goal."This was not meant to happen, this could not happen... this is happening!"
He's a genius.