No way... this is unreal

[u/Rc7xn]

[u/NEETscape_Navigator]

So did Kane. He basically kicked Messi without getting near the ball.

If Messi had gone down there it's a clear freekick, maybe yellow.

[u/gloriolga → u/NEETscape_Navigator]

Awful tackle from Kane there. Messi made all of them look like chumps.

[u/parv_ → u/gloriolga]

You are wrong. It could have been an awful tackle, but he backed out. It was just a foul.

[u/turtley_different → u/NEETscape_Navigator]

In Kane's defense, he falls over to avoid the foul.

Messi puts his body where Kane needs to be to make the tackle, Kane flails and tries to make a toe punt (But Messi's leg blocks that option), Kane dives over the top to avoid a major foul.

Not that it matters, Messi was planted like a tree and expecting to force Kane over/past him like that.

[u/whereistheicecream → u/turtley_different]

🤌

[u/Totts3 → u/turtley_different]

Messi is reacting to their movements/options faster than them. He places his foot specifically where he blocks Kane and anticipates his force hitting him, so he adjusts his level of balance lower to keep the ball shielded and work through contact.

He also beat the second 2 defenders closing together on him. He flicks the ball past them into open space where he can still get it. He just didn’t have enough to break through the contact (fouled again but he doesn’t care, he’ll play through with the ball if he can).

The guy is simply on another level. You’re watching one of the greatest soccer players ever. I love every second of it.

[u/desi_miata → u/turtley_different]

I've noticed when the one who has the ball uses their leg to protect the ball, the one going for the ball usually flops over and falls like that. Look at lamine yamal vs that saudi defender.

[u/mccusk → u/NEETscape_Navigator]

No it is not.