It’s the 77th minute of FC Barcelona-UD Las Palmas, and Lionel Messi has scored a free kick in every match of 2017 up to this point. He’s fouled in a good shooting position and has a chance to continue that incredible streak. He has every right and every reason to want to take the shot. Instead, Ivan Rakitiu0107 shoots... into the wall - but that’s besides the point.
Rakitiu0107 was a late substitution again, with rumors in the press that he is unhappy with the lack of playing time. I suppose we’ll never know for sure unless he confirms it, but there’s every reason to think Messi ceded the shot to try to keep Rakitiu0107’s spirits up.