(From left) Leo Messi and Refik Anadol.
Lionel Messi has revealed his favourite goal from an illustrious career spanning decades. And although there were many, the player selected the soaring header against Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final in Rome as his top pick.
The announcement, part of the “A Goal in Life” charity campaign led by the Inter Miami CF Foundation, signals the beginning of an extraordinary collaboration between sport and contemporary art.
A Winning Moment
The goal, delivered on 27 May 2009, was pivotal in securing FC Barcelona’s treble-winning season. In a career filled with technical masterpieces, Messi’s decision to spotlight a rare header underscores the emotional and symbolic weight of that moment. “I’ve scored many beautiful and important goals, but the header in the Champions League final has always been my favourite,” Messi shared. “It’s exciting to see how Refik Anadol will transform such a moment into a unique piece of art.”
Anadol, a renowned digital artist known for pushing the limits of AI and data-driven creativity, is crafting a one-of-a-kind artwork using millions of data points from the goal. The piece will incorporate motion, biometrics, and archival footage to evoke not just the action but the spirit of the goal. The UEFA has granted special rights to the footage, enabling its transformation into art for the campaign.
Installation view of Refik Anadol: Unsupervised, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, November
19, 2022 – March 5, 2023. © 2022 The Museum of Modern Art. Photo: Refik Anadol.
The announcement has generated immense buzz. An initial video narrated by Morgan Freeman surpassed 50 million views on Instagram within ten days, with fans globally speculating which goal Messi would choose as his favourite. From his World Cup brilliance to the solo run against Getafe, the final pick resonated deeply across generations.
The artwork will debut online via Christie’s on 11 June, followed by a public exhibition in New York on 15 July. An international online auction will run from 15–22 July, with collectors from both the art and football worlds expressing strong interest.
All proceeds from the sale will support educational charities, including UNICEF programmes across Latin America and the Caribbean. As Anadol puts it, “We’re turning goals into educational opportunities. It’s about data becoming emotion, and memory becoming form.”
