FC Barcelona Messi Skill Breakdown 2013-4 La Liga Week 26

Football Club Barcelona have earned a direct free kick near the center of the pitch, about 28 yards from goal. As usual, the left-footed Lionel Messi (#10) and right-footed Xavi Hernandez (#6) line up so that either might take the kick. (I have superimposed a line indicating the straight course from the ball to goal.) Adriano (#21) breaks toward the left wing, and the way Messi is lined up, it is possible that he may intend on playing a give-and-go with Adriano:

Messi quickly approaches and strikes the ball with power. The defender abandons Adriano, as it is already clear by the pace of the shot that this isn't a pass:

The balls easily clears the last defender in the wall, several feet wide of the goalkeeper's right post:

Shortly thereafter, the ball abruptly reverses course and curls back towards the goal:

The goalkeeper does his best to react...:

but the ball finds the top corner of the goal, impossibly out of reach and yet exactly aligned with the direct route:

¡Visca el Barca!