The footballing world has been abuzz the past 24 hours after seeing Lionel Messi execute what people are referring to as a "trick penalty" against Celta Vigo on Sunday. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner stepped up to what seemed to be a typical spot kick with a 3-1 lead, but instead of shooting, he simply tapped it over into empty space and Luis Suarez did the rest.
Since then there have been questions of the legality and morality of it. The act itself is perfectly legal, but some contest that Suarez stepped inside the box before the ball was struck. Then there's a select crowd bemoaning the attempt at all, saying that it was unnecessary showboating and an insult to the opponent. Barca Blaugranes has already responded to those claims with this eloquently wrote rebuttal.
Defenders of Messi's penalty say that he was simply paying tribute to Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff, who recently announced he was cancer-free. Cruyff was known for pulling off the feat on several occasions:
Videos have now emerged from the mid-1950's of the "pass penalty" being executed flawlessly. Lionel Messi is just the guy smart enough to try it when everyone else had long forgotten about it. The first ever known instance of the play was pulled off by Northern Ireland's Danny Blanchflower and Jimmy McIlroy in 1957 against Portugal. Here's video of that historic moment:
Blanchflower & McIlroy here with the original 'Pass Penalty' for N. Ireland back in 1957 #thfc http://pic.twitter.com/n5iW9DTw5w
— Spreadex (@spreadexsports) February 15, 2016
As you can see, the "pass penalty" is no new concept. Messi should be praised as a student of history instead of vilified as a showboater. You won't see the other superstars of the world passing up sure goals to help a teammate out.
from Barca Blaugranes - All Posts http://ift.tt/1To1K3n
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