The Barcelona forward was applauded by both sets of fans in the win at Betis – not for scoring three times, but because of how he scored
“Truth is, I don’t remember anything like this,” Lionel Messi said but nor do they and their reaction said more than words, long abandoned as inadequate. There were five minutes left of a perfect performance when he took the shot that transfixed them and then turned them. Not so much hit first time as coaxed, the ball rose softly and curved gently, granting them time to take it in, inviting them to halt everything and watch it orbiting alone, so they did. Only Betis goalkeeper Pau López moved, seeing it float by, just there but just out of reach, everything unfolding like a slow-motion replay from an arty TV director. Only this was live. The ball caressed the bar, landed in the net, and there was a collective intake of breath. And then, instead of a roar, an “oh”.
Written by Sid Lowe
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/mar/18/oh-my-god-lionel-messi-hat-trick-stadium-left-in-suspended-animation-barcelona under the title “Oh. My. God. Messi, a hat-trick and a stadium left in suspended animation”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
