Lionel Messi is as good as a footballer can get, and no matter how many debates people bring up about someone else being a better footballer than the Argentinean, the reality that he has managed to keep his level of football at the same level for all these years, is just something else.The art of nutmeg is a tough one to pull and is often rated as filthy. There is just too much penetration happening. But, someone tell that to Messi. The Barcelona forward pulls nutmegs out of nowhere and in a frequency that is hardly matched by anyone. To put it in a way Ray Hudson would, Messi’s nutmegs destroys families and brings famine to a nation. They are that filthy.On a serious note, we bring you the 10 of the best nutmegs pulled off by Lionel Messi over the few years:
#1 Sweden vs Argentina
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Representing Argentina, Lionel Messi, who was playing deeper than usual that night, pulled off this cheeky nutmeg against Sweden’s Kim Källström in an international friendly in 2013.
Rumours are Kallstrom is still seen roaming around the streets of Russia in wintry, cold nights, screaming, “I was nutmegged by a man who walked free.”
#2 Barcelona vs Manchester City
To be quite straightforward, James Milner inspired me to compile this list. This specific nutmeg left former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who was sitting in the stands, stunned.
And, let me tell you one thing – it takes real effort to impress Guardiola. He is the same guy who would probe his forwards after a match his side would have won after scoring 6 to 7 goals.
#3 Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano
This one is a tough one. He pulled this off against Rayo Vallecano, and what makes it a bit special than the previous two is Messi’s ability to find space to dribble past two players and then nutmeg another defender, and all of this just outside the penalty box.
Well, if this doesn’t make a footballer special, I don’t know what does.
#4 Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Messi’s victim in this clip is a very special footballer. He is a World Champion and is rated as one of the best central footballers today.
But, with Messi on the ball, all that player could do was watch Messi slide past him with a crazy, cheeky nutmeg. He is Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos.
#5 Sevilla vs Barcelona
Lionel Messi pulled this nutmeg off in the 2011/12 season against Sevilla defender Emir Spahi, and the move paid off as Messi was successful in putting the ball into the net with an equally audacious chip shot.
#6 Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona
Messi’s nutmeg against Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore finds a special spot in our list as you simply don’t pull off a nutmeg as filthy as this one against your very own countryman.
#7 Barcelona vs Manchester City
Yes, Fernandinho, keep those hands up in the air. We will pretend to have not seen it, because, after all, this is all a man can do.
#8 Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol
A personal favourite of mine, Messi had put on a full-on performance that night against RCD Espanyol as he grabbed a brilliant hat-trick with Barcelona scoring five goals past their city rivals last December.
#9 Eibar vs Barcelona
Another insane nutmeg, the Argentina international pulled this off against then-newly-promoted Eibar, crushing their young little dreams with a marvelous brace,
#10 Sporting Gijon vs Barcelona
This came against Sporting Gijon in the 2011/12 season as all the victim could do was just manage a touch of Messi’s shirt while the Argentine went past him, penetrating the ball between the challenger’s legs.
