Watch: Sneaky Messi scooched the ball forward to get a better angle for free kick goal

Lionel Messi’s game-tying free kick vs. FC Dallas on Sunday in the Leagues Cup was an insane moment. A new video angle prior to the kick shows that Messi was a little sneaky when he was setting up to take the shot.

While the referee had his back turned the Argentine ever so subtly moved the ball closer to the middle of the field to get a better angle for the shot. 

Messi moves ball before free kick

Detalles del mejor de todos los tiempos. pic.twitter.com/WpePv3dKD4

— Messismo (@Messismo10) August 8, 2023

HE DID IT AGAIN.

LEO MESSI. FREE KICK. EQUALIZER. 4-4. pic.twitter.com/Yh1TXFDENH

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 7, 2023

That’s a player who knows exactly where he’s putting the ball. If you add all the schooches together then Messi moved the free kick spot about three yards. That was the difference between the ball going in the top 90 vs. going wide.

Messi’s free kick goal in the 85th minute tied the game at 4-4 before Inter Miami went on to win the penalty shootout.

Messi and Miami will return to Leagues Cup action in the quarterfinals on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET as they host Charlotte FC at DRV PNK Stadium.