Leo Messi • Solo Runs 2011/12 • With Commentaries

He's not going to catch me, he said. I'm too quick for you, I'm too nimble and I'm too skilful. And he's right. My goodness. It's great, but their confidence is there for everyone to see. Here's Messi. Little acceleration at the tip of the shoulder. And then he releases the ball to Thiago. Always so easy. Oh, Messi. And still Messi. It is Messi. Messi continues. Messi takes on all comers. But the Neapolitan should have scored. He should have scored. It was a fabulous move from New York on the counter attack. And Messi now is trying to do something for Barcelona. Here he goes. He's beaten three. To win the club. As he said quite rightly. You can have such a valuable player. Messi getting away from Romero Valletta. Looking to go all the way here. It's Messi. Beautiful, intricate passing between Messi and Pedro. And it's near now. Messi. It's superb. There you see it. Now you don't. Quick. Dancing feet. You know, Kevin. When you see the ball from the throw-in. In a tight area in the corner flag. With loads of defenders about. You think there's no danger. But see when that little man gets the ball. There's always a danger. Fantastic body movement as well. Here it is. 1-2. Stretches, gets it. Still 1-2. Defenders. He beats both of them at once. Swivel of the hips. He takes the throw-in. Plays the 1-2. This is an unbelievable goal. Here goes delivery. Valdez amongst the crowd. With a really strong fist away. Now Messi. Gets away from Gabi. Got Villa to his left. Still it's Messi. Referee right up with play. And he's going to book Luis Perea. For the challenge on Messi. He's taken him out, Kevin. What a mesmerising run that was. The skill and the balance of that piece. Our minds were going back a few years there, Gerry. When we did the Copa del Rey game against Getafe. And that goal from Messi. Remember it well. Never to be forgotten. Valdez. Scoons rather luckily into the path here of Messi. He could take full advantage. It's near now. Messi! Can't stop him. Even in the tightest. Of positions. He finds a gap. Finds that acceleration. And yet another goal. In this fantastic run. Since he burst onto the scene. As a precocious 17-year-old in the first team. And that familiar refrain of Messi, Messi. Rings around the Camp Nou. He deserves all the adulation he gets. Because he is something special. His touch. His acceleration. Drops his shoulder and then he accelerates. Passed another one. And then he whips it in through the legs. He loses it. Now Messi has it. And he goes scurrying towards the defenders again. It's Messi. It's still Messi. It's wonderful. Absolutely world-class again from Lionel Messi. The best player in the world. That's it. It's all over. But, John, watch what happens when they've got the ball. Mareskis got the ball. And it's Messi. I said this to you before about how quickly they win it back. He picks his pocket from behind. He nicks it off him. There. He nicks it. And then once he nicks it, he's away. And in front. Drops his shoulder. Inside. There's nothing they can do. And he places it inside the post. There's nothing Willy Caballero can do on this occasion. But when he's running at it, he's just unstoppable. And he is the best player in the world. Fabulous goal. His 21st league goal. His 35th goal of the season. And it's 3-0. And it's three points. Thiago. First time ball by Pedro. And Messi gets away from the challenge. They're trying to close him down. But they can't stop Lionel Messi. It's Messi. It's another hat-trick. It is another performance of genius from the great man. Five hat-tricks for the season. They just couldn't stop him. There were enough of them there. They just couldn't live with Messi. Nobody can live with Messi when he's running at it from those positions. His technique. His skill. The ball is stuck to his foot. You can try and kick him, but he's got great balance. He's strong. And then he rides the challenge. And he accelerates straight at Matheson. Inside the channel, there's nothing he can do. And he just cleverly clips it past Willy Caballero. He knows exactly what he's got to do. And you're not going to catch me, he said. I'm too quick for you. I'm too nimble. And I'm too skillful. And he's right. My goodness. What a player. Have we ever seen a player like him before? I don't think so. Unfortunately, a certain Diego Maradona was in the side for Barcelona. And he just took control and they beat us 4-1. Look at this little man. Well, I think he's better than Maradona. The pulse. He's the heartbeat of that side. He's prompting all the time. Now this. Messi. Goes right across the back pocket. He is a magician. He's a magician, isn't he? Really hot. Those challenges. And do you know what? If he lets one of them hit him, it's a penalty. Once again, it's the woodwork that stops him from scoring. This is the run from Messi from a different angle. And he's just mesmerizing. Off the post. Messi comes forward. They have this prodigious home record. Messi finds the gap where there wasn't one. Off the post. Alexis Sanchez for two months. Iniesta for a month. Here's Messi. He can go all the way here. Messi. Oh, through the gap. And now Messi. It's another fantastic goal. It's a ridiculous goal, Kevin. I'm not being funny. There's five or six Rafael Santana defenders there. And it's Messi and Iniesta between them. They carve them open. And then there's no space, you think. And then Messi picks it up. Squeezes in between two of them. Takes it around the goalkeeper. Tightest of angles. And he makes it look so simple. But this guy is a genius. We'll run out of quotes and phrases to describe this little man. He's just absolutely superb. Mid-October. And it's his 15th goal of the season already. Especially after his height in the last period. Xavi sees that Teo is there. Also Messi. It's good that you're thinking of ways for them to add to their 165-goal tally, though, Terry. There's Messi again. And still they're not Messi. Is there a special finish? Boy, I've got to touch on it. Xavi kicks thin air again. Thomas Lovren just about hanging on in this game. Or Messi. Messi. How did he get past two there? Alves. Messi! Oh! It goes in. It's a nestle in the back of the net. Even if you have an allegiance to Osasuna, you almost baited to go in. Well, the question marks have to be asked is, how on earth did he get out of that first challenge to start off with, with two players in and around him? But then there's just a nice little one-two involved himself with Dani Alves. He can see Griezko going down. Alexis. Messi. The girls coming across the cover. Brilliant save once again from Diego Alves. Look at this run. He looks like nowhere to go. It's a nutmegs. Fantastic. Look at the save. Look at Miguel, he's coming across. But Messi wanted that much. Don't tame me, full Levante. Messi. Little acceleration of pace. There, now Messi! Deflected and wide. Well, the crowd were beginning to rise to applaud another sensational Messi goal. Not this time. You just can't help but love watching Messi when he's in full flight. Carlos Puyol is out. And indeed out of the forthcoming European Championships. And there's no Eric Abidal after his liver transplant, of course. Lionel Messi. Messi gets his head up, sees the pass. He sees the pass. It's a goal for Barcelona! Substitute Pedro! Against the run of play for what we've seen in 43 first half minutes. Probably frustration. Five good chances Real Madrid have had to take the lead. Messi running with the ball is a disaster for any defence. But the full backs come across. Arboloa has lost his shape. He's come... ...in midfield tonight. Lionel Messi. Shrugs off Ozil. Takes on two, threads it through to Alexis. Sanchez. Sanchez! Barcelona are back! Messi, the creator. And Alexis Sanchez on his Clásico Liga debut. Brings Barcelona back into the game. Well what a scintillating run it was from Lionel Messi, Rob. He really does do fantastically well. Pushing forward. Drives into the heart of the defences. Loads of white shirts. And the pass was brilliant. He's going to play centre forward. Now Messi. Brilliant from Messi. Wonderful from Messi. Iniesta. Balls to Tello. The referee gave the advantage. Wasn't taken twice. Three times. With the pressure that Real Madrid are applying. It's just the second game so far this season. Messi. What a great ball. What an excellent run. Iniesta. Teases Casillas. Almost British genes in his style of play. Big bustling centre forward. Here's a talent. Lionel Messi dances with defenders through the legs. To create a little magical Messi moment. They're making it look easy here at the moment. Creating chances so readily. And this is a brilliant pass. Look at this pass. From Lionel Messi. In behind the last defender. Into the path of Seducaita. He just mesmerises anybody in front of him. Where the pass is perfect. They're seeking their third goal. It's Messi. It's Iniesta. It's Messi. Messi takes on all of the defenders. Leaves them on the ground. But it's the side net. Not the back of the net. For the World Player of the Year. Some of the football is breathtaking. The understanding between Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi is incredible. Unbelievable. Look at this little one too. And it's teed up from... He's forced wide. Wide again. And he hits the side net. Messi must learn to play this year. On loads of occasions. With the three defenders. Lovely touch from Messi. Well away from Escudé. This is Iniesta. Onto it now is Messi. Brilliantly done. Oh, it's glorious. Another one for the picture scrapbook. The goal is complete work of art. He's just going to make the point. On the rare occasion that a Barcelona player got caught dwelling on the ball in midfield. Iniesta involved. Back to Messi. But look at this. Nutmegs there. And then the little dink. Goalkeepers know he's going to do it. But they've got no choice but to go and spread themselves. Go down low. Try and block the attempt. But he gets the dink. Inch perfect. Everyone holding their breath. Waiting for that second. Is he going to go over the bar? Is he going to come down? Comes down quick enough. Comfortably in time. 2-0 Barcelona. He is an absolute genius. The pass for Messi. All control. Brilliant. Out of his feet. Lionel Messi! Can you see? That's an absolute peach, isn't it? Full pass. But it's all about that first touch. Against most players you would have a chance. On his first touch. Maybe making a sliding challenge. But with Messi, it's perfect. And then from that acute angle. There's not much to aim at. It has to be inch perfect. It's not like Brazil to give you an opportunity when they've got an extra man. Here goes Messi. They're backing off and backing off! The best player in the world. They just have won this game for Argentina. This is absolutely fantastic. What a strike this is. I don't care about the goalkeeper. Who he is in there. He's not going to stop that. There was no error in the scoring of this goal. This is just magical. What a strike. Right in that top corner. Just set up for him just before he hit it. Cutting his way through the defence again. Just look. It's as if it's stuck to his toe. Couple of lovely little one-twos. But his body movement and his touch and his skill and technique, Kevin. Is there to be admired. He really is the best player in the world for me. And his composure as he slots it past the goalkeeper. Creating very good opportunities. Here's the trouble now. Messi on the ball. Pace. Power. Good football. A little risky from Alexis. That's a nice touch from Leo Messi out to Dani Alves. Back to Messi. Great change of pace from Leo Messi. Still Leo Messi. And that is a trademark Leo Messi strike. Fantastic one-two with Dani Alves on the right flank. But it was all about Leo Messi's change of pace and his composure in front of goal. Another magnificent strike. Once again. The crowd inside the camp now. Hailing their hero Leo Messi. Messi. Taking the ball on. Lionel Messi. Lovely little pass. Fabregas is in there. Xavi. Messi. Still Messi. It's a lovely run. Varas is there again. Messi. Oh brilliant. Gas from the ground. Messi. We just wanted to see the net bulge. Well that perhaps is the touch of the season. It was sensational. It's exactly what I mean. He's barely been tried tonight. That is absolutely brilliant.