With FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi having already scored eight direct free-kicks in 2018, one of his teammates has now admitted that some of the players already think about their celebration before the Argentine even takes a free-kick.
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Despite being one of the best players in the world since his early twenties, Messi had to wait his turn to become the Catalan club's designated set-piece taker.
The likes of Ronaldinho and Xavi Hernandez had rank over the Argentine when they played in the team, but since assuming the duty, Messi has been a frequent scorer from direct free-kicks.
The 31-year-old has already scored twice from set-pieces this season, and after he did so in the UEFA Champions League against PSV Eindhoven this week, Ivan Rakitic revealed that he and his colleagues always back the forward to score.
"A lot of the time when we get a free-kick, we are already thinking about the celebration," the Croatian said, according to the Daily Mail.
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Messi has already found the back of the net seven times and assisted a further three strikes in six games for the Blaugrana so far this season.
Do you think Messi is currently the best free-kick taker in the world? Let us know in the comments section below.
