Image via Complex Original
Today, Lionel Messi turns 26 years old. His 348 career goals could last a lifetime, but he also still has a lifetime left of soccer to play. He's a six-time La Liga champion, three-time Champions League winner and has been awarded the Ballon d'Or four years running. To celebrate his birthday and his achievements, we present the Most Badass Lionel Messi Plays in GIF form.
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15. How Many Goals Today?
Date: 4/6/2013
Opponent: Mallorca
Three goals is light work for Messi.
14. Another Chip, Another Goal
Date: 3/9/2013
Opponent: Deportivo
If statisticians kept track of "chipped goals," Messi would easily be the world's all-time leader in that luxury metric. And if they kept a stat of "making the goalkeeper look like a fool," Leo would probably lead in that category as well. Just saying.
13. There's No "I" in Team
Date: 1/25/2012
Opponent: Real Madrid
Check out Messi attracting Real Madrid's entire defense to his half of the pitch before chipping a pass weak-side for an easy goal. Just LOOK at this man work! He's put up a league-leading 45 assists over the past two seasons.
12. Five-Hole
Date: 3/17/2012
Opponent: Sevilla
Dude, keep your legs closed. For soccer reasons! For soccer reasons!
11. You Got Curved
Date: 3/12/2013
Opponent: AC Milan
A peach of a curler from Leo here. But what were the six AC Milan players around Messi doing? No, seriously!
10. Straight Disrespecting Keepers
Date: 11/20/2012
Opponent: Spartak Moscow
This guy's been making goal keepers look bad all his life. It's not just that he scores a ton, he also effortlessly makes his opponents look like crap in the process.
9. The Warm-Up Wonder
Date: N/A
Opponent: N/A
Look at Messi flex in warm-ups. Two goals, one shot? Nice.
8. Some World Class Dribbling
Date: 11/1/2011
Opponent: Viktoria Plzeň
Messi was defeated by the post here, but he still took three separate Viktoria Plzeň defenders for a ride on the pitch.
7. What a Free Kick
Date: 10/7/2012
Opponent: Real Madrid
Is it possible that the world's best soccer player has an underrated talent? We'd say so. With dead-ball specialists like Xavi, Iniesta, and David Villa on Barcelona, Messi's free kick ability sometimes goes under the radar. This sure woke Real Madrid up.
6. Messi the Pick-Pocket
Date: 12/16/2012
Opponent: Atletico Madrid
As a defender, you just can't fall asleep when Messi is lurking. He'll punish, you pay. Every. Single. Time.
5. He Can Do It All
Date: 4/6/2010
Opponent: Arsenal
Standing at 5'7", Messi is pretty diminutive in height on the pitch. If winning this header over an opposing midfielder wasn't incredible enough, he intelligently heads it to his man to create an easy opportunity on goal. Just wow.
4. See Ya Later
Date: 4/29/2008
Opponent: Manchester United
Messi's regarded as one of, if not the best, dribbler in world soccer. Here he leaves Manchester United midfield legend Paul Scholes in the dust. Your favorite crossover dribble has nothing on this!
3. The International Wonder
Date: 9/6/2012
Opponent: Brazil
Brazil vs. Argentina is international soccer's fiercest rivalry. Messi is much maligned in Argentina for his suspect form for his country, but this goal was pure genius
2. Peace to Real Madrid
Date: 4/27/2011
Opponent: Real Madrid
This solo effort doesn't have an appropriate enough superlative for it. The away goal put Barcelona up 2-0 up on aggregate, basically vanquishing Real Madrid from the Champions League Semis before the second leg. How do the Finals taste, Ronaldo?
1. Messi's Best Goal Ever?
Date: 4/18/2007
Opponent: Getafe
Mirroring Diego Maradona's "Goal of the Century" against England, Messi put on some serious moves here to hit the back of the net. We'll just let the GIF do the talking.