FCBARCELONA.CAT

18.04.2007 22:28

In the Azteca and now in Camp Nou

Lionel Messi's superb goal in the Copa del Rey semi final against Getafe resembled the stunning individual effort by Diego Armando Maradona in the 1986 World Cup.

On June 22, 1986, over a year before Messi was born, a former Barça star was proving to the world what he was really capable of as he netted the winning goal in the quarter final encounter with England. After opening the scoring earlier in the match in controversial circumstances, Maradona showed his incredible ability by gliding past a number of defenders before slotting the ball home.

On April 18, 2007, history took a simlar turn as Messi set off from inside his own half and took a similar path to goal that his hero had taken over 20 years before. Instead of the Azteca in Mexico, this time it was Camp Nou that exploded in adulation.

From Shilton to Luis Garcia

England's Peter Reid, Terry Fenwick and Terry Butcher were replaced on this occasion by Getafe's Nacho, Alexis and David Belenguer. For both goals, the Argentinian stars cruised past their opponents with agility and class, leaving their markers stranded. While Maradona beat the English number one, Peter Shilton, at the end of his run, Messi rounded Getafe's second-string keeper Luís García before slotting home. Both times the goals were historic.