In a decision as emotional as it is symbolic, soccer star Lionel Messi surprised the world by revealing which goal he considers the most special of his entire career. And it wasn’t one of his typical Maradona-like runs, an impossible free kick, or even a goal that earned him a title with the Argentine national team.
The chosen one was that unforgettable header against Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome — a goal that essentially sealed the title for Barcelona during one of the club’s most glorious seasons.
“I’ve scored many goals that might have been prettier or even more meaningful, because of their importance, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favorite,” Messi explained as part of the A Goal in Life charity campaign, promoted by the Inter Miami CF Foundation.
The Argentine captain looked back on that moment with emotion, recalling it as a turning point in his career — his ultimate consecration in European soccer.
But the project goes beyond sports. Innovative Turkish artist Refik Anadol will use millions of data points from that exact moment — including angles, sequences, movements, and emotions — and transform them into a unique digital artwork. The piece will be auctioned by Christie’s to raise funds for educational and social causes.
UEFA granted access to the audiovisual rights, and Messi was specially interviewed by Anadol to capture the human and emotional depth of that goal in Rome.
“Hopefully one day we’ll bring one of these trophies back to Argentina,” Messi said with a smile, referencing the 1996 Champions League trophy he saw on display at Inter Miami’s headquarters.
In Anadol’s own words, the piece is much more than just a tribute to Messi:
“This project aims to transform art into direct impact. Leo’s goal is more than a decisive sports moment — it’s a complex expression of memory, emotion, and movement. By integrating AI and biosensing technologies, we turn data into emotion, and emotion into legacy.”
And so, that header — defying logic, from a 5-foot-7 player against towering English defenders — will now transcend the pitch to become pure art, with a deeply human purpose.
