This stuff doesn’t happen by accident, you know. The first time Lionel Messi stuck the ball through Thibaut Courtois’ legs from a seemingly impossible angle it was possible to fool yourself that, well, he might have got a little fortunate there.
The second time, there could be no doubt. Messi shoots from places that no other footballer would, he is capable of targeting areas of the goal, or of a person, with a precision that is quite breath-taking in its uniqueness. It is remarkable that Barcelona ever lose a game with a player of his talent on tap; remarkable that he doesn’t just score several this way each time he plays, considering he seems able to pass through the thigh gap at will.