How Lionel Messi Eviscerated Jerome Boateng | Messi Technique Analysis

Football coach and skills scientist Dr. Raj, DPT explains Lionel Messi technique vs Jerome Boateng and Bayern Munich on the infamous play where Messi left Boateng on the ground and chipped over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer during Barcelona - Bayern Munich 2015 Champions League 1st leg | How Lionel Messi Eviscerated Jerome Boateng | Messi Technique Analysis | Football skills analysis
For reference, I’m a youth football coach, sports scientist, DPT (Doctor of Physio), movement expert, researcher, mindfulness enthusiast and owner of 3CB Performance -providing sports medicine, performance, and mindfulness services online and in-person at clinics in West LA and Valencia, CA.
Feel free to hit me with questions and/or you can always find me on my website or follow on social media:
Website: www.3cbperformance.com/
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Here’s a table of contents:
- 0:00 The lead-in
- 0:32 Positioning
- 1:14 Setting The Trap
- 1:32 Composure and Chip Technique
- 1:48 Outro
Script:
Welcome it’s Raj from 3CB.
During the first leg of Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s 2015 champions league semifinals draw, Lionel Messi famously dropped CB Jerome Boateng with a vicious dribble and then finished with a gorgeous chip over Manuel Neuer.
The fall itself has been focused on ad nauseum - and Boateng to his credit has taken it in stride - but it was merely the symptom of a great process & sequence from Messi. A sequence that provides many learning points for footballers. Let’s go through it.
Positioning
The first component is how Messi gets himself into an advantage position in the first place. He positions himself in the pocket between defenders and creates a clean passing channel.
Setting the trap
After receiving the ball, Messi cuts down the space and angle between himself and Boateng and then (pause) slows his dribble down while reading Boateng’s positioning.
Boateng finds himself in a tough position 1v1 vs Messi and he’s trying to play in-between - trying to anticipate both the dribble towards the endline and Messi’s cutback onto his vicious left foot. Further, a key issue is how vertical he is which limits change of direction and balance.
Messi lays the bait by cutting onto his left foot and Boateng takes it. He attempts to get a touch on the ball while rotating but look how unbalanced he is, left stance leg completely outside his midline.
Messi crosses back, anticipating the challenge from Boateng, and down he goes - balance completely compromised.
Composure & chip technique
However, the job’s not done. Keeper Manuel Neuer is rushing out to cut down the angle but Messi keeps his calm and uses the medial dorsal part of his foot to scoop the ball over the top. Incredible goal.

[@3cbperformance]

If you appreciate the videos, depth, & narrative-free analysis, please take a second to thumbs up, sub, & share. I appreciate your time watching and feel free to hit me with questions and/or comments.

[@Futbol_ZEE7ii]

GREATEST OF ALL TIME❤

[@3cbperformance]

And it’s not even close

[@amirkh7228]

Please make some videos for maradona's dribbling

[@thekyser]

More of this please!!!

[@3cbperformance]

Will do

[@amirkh7228]

Great work🙌❤️

[@3cbperformance]

Thank you 🙌

[@aryanawasthi6556]

Best dribbler of all time imo

[@3cbperformance]

Best dribbler and thinker too

[@adarshjyoti5738]

@@3cbperformance maradona goal of the century 😏😏😊😊🤔

[@3cbperformance]

@@adarshjyoti5738 Absolutely, possibly only matched by Messi

[@adarshjyoti5738]

@@3cbperformance make a video on lewandoski, how he always position himself in the right place at the right time.

[@3cbperformance]

@@adarshjyoti5738 Great suggestion

[@laus-thecurious4120]

When I have the. Ball my eyes sweats and every thing becomes unclear

[@3cbperformance]

Then wear a headband

[@__Hmmmmmmmm__]

I like to think this was revenge for the World Cup final the previous year…

[@Reecefootball11]

Another brilliant vid! Could it be possible if you could do an update on France's Karim Benzema? And an analysis video on Phil Foden's dribbling technique/style would be interesting! Thanks

[@3cbperformance]

No real update on Benzema bc his injury doesn't seem serious at all, expected to play. As per Foden, I will try but it's a little harder bc premier league is very stringent with their copyright

[@Reecefootball11]

@@3cbperformance No problem. Hopefully you can access some footage from the Euros.

[@laus-thecurious4120]

Oh bhai maro mujhe maro