Messi is actually on the way down, which gives an indication of how high he must have got to reach it. Also you can see that he was quite unbalanced stretching to get his head to it, so it really was a sensational effort.

There’s a great shot of van der Sar, mouth wide open like a Luna Park clown, goggle eyed, it almost looks like he’s got it covered, but the expression appears to be saying: bloody hell, don’t tell me the short arse is going to get one over me!!!

A regulation header? Maybe for some, but I wouldn’t say for all.

And then for it to come from the most unlikely of sources – the smallest man to play the game since Napoleon was kicking severed heads around Versailles.

Watch it again, not only does Messi just, just get to it, but for his size, position, and direction, he hits it absolutely perfectly when he was quite unbalanced – c’mon fellas, some due regard!!!

But these things are decided to appease the masses, and are more political than anything else.

Agreed. Wonder if he will be the best in 2010 – the year where possible immortality awaits.

To answer your question from before Alan, I think Messi has been the best player in the last two years.

Indeed Puyol was masterful in shutting down Ronaldo and he played a critical role in Messi’s second goal when he attacked a clearing kick from the United defence and put Manchester on the back foot once again.

In the first 10 minutes it looked like Ronaldo was going to take the final by the scruff of the neck and win it for Man U.

As soon as they fell behind, SAF inexplicably kept playing Ronaldo as the lone front man. Ridiculous.

Barcelona went into the game missing both full backs, Abidal and Alves.
Why this was not exploited, noboby knows. Puyol and Sylvinho are not quick.

The big loser in this game was Ferguson. Not Ronaldo.

The big winner is Pep. He wins an unprecedented treble in his 1st year as manager, now that’s an achievement.
He sold off Deco and Ronaldinho and has his team playing 21st century total football. Congrats Pep.

He beat Rio Ferdinand to the ball when i looked at the Fox Sports replay. It looks like him anyway. I think Vidic was looking on from the edge of the box, but yeah, a terrific header regardless from Messi.

It was quite incredible (from a player who regularly does incredible things). Now is it my imagination, or was that Vidic he beat to the ball?? If it was (and my apologies in advance if I have got that wrong) – but it does make it an absolutely miraculous goal – because Vidic is rarely beaten in the air by anyone, including the biggest, strongest centre-forwards.

Towser
you often hear the expression “low centre of gravity” used to describe some players in a variety of sports, and Messi definitely has that in spades!!

Yeah, fancy that. Although the majority of Messi’s goals have come from his feet, no doubt the header is probably the most important and valued goal so far in his career. It may well be the only goal he scores with his head, but what a time to do so.

Messi? well, Messi’s Messi. Just when we thought there were no other tricks in his kit bag, he comes up with that incredible header (an area where you’d normally think Ronaldo had it all over him)

When body on body contact is made, Messi continues to fight and keep the ball. Ronaldo drops like a sack of crap and plays for the free… I am a Man United fan and love ronaldo but when it comes to comparing the two, that is what stands out to me.

Indeed winning trophies really helps in establishing whether a player is the best or not. But to be fair, Ronaldo did score over 40 goals when he did win the trophy.

When you say Messi should have won it last year, will you do a backflip and say Ronaldo should win it this year instead of Messi?

But yeah, the way Iniesta consistently manages to dribble the ball through heavy traffic to just outside the box is great to watch. Created huge problems for Man U.

I’m talking into respect to the service he was given. Tonight, despite having less space to work with, was at the centre of everything United did well (which, to be fair, wasn’t much). He generally held onto the ball well, although was perhaps a bit selfish at times and caused problems for the Barcelona defence all night.

However, Inesta is some player. I’ve always rated this lad, even from a few years ago, when he wasn’t getting that many games, I couldn’t quite undestand why.

Alan Nicolea,

I actually thought Messi should have been the world player of the year last year, but I think because of the lack of trophies, Ronaldo overshadowed him in that respect. I think Messi has the more natural ability with a football at his feet, but Ronaldo is more physically imposing.

Not sure about Ronaldo being more influential though.

What happened to Messi last year found its way to Ronaldo’s shoes this year. Messi was by far the most influential player in last years semi final between the two sides yet he did not recieve the world class service from the likes of Xavi and Iniesta to worry United enough. Ronaldo on the other hand was superb in a side that counted with in form players such as Tevez, Carrick, Hargreaves, Giggs and Scholes.

Fast forward to this season however and Messi has been sublime, along with the rest of Barca’s midfield while Ronaldo felt he had to do everything against the Catalan giants in the final. Overall, Messi deserves the individual accolades that really should come his way after such a great season.