Goal analysis of Lionel Messi’s 474 goals in LaLiga

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the goal-scoring pattern of Lionel Messi’s 474 goals in the LaLiga competitions. The research is delimited to Messi’s 474 goals in 520 appearances for FC Barcelona from the 2004 to 2021 seasons. The findings showed that Messi scored all of his 474 goals with a scoring rate of 0.91 goals per game. Among his 474 goals in LaLiga club competitions, 394 goals were scored from his left foot another 63 goals from the right foot and 17 goals from the headers. Messi scored different types of scoring in his 474 goals; he scored 373 goals in open play, 61goals from penalties and 40 goals from direct free-kicks. Among his 474 goals, 386 goals were scored from the penalty area i.e. inside goal area (63 goals) and outside goal area (323 goals) and the remaining 88 goals were scored from outside the penalty area. The studies conclude that among all of his 474 goals, Messi used his left foot as a dominant foot as compared to his right foot for goal scoring. The types of goals he scores are mostly in open play rather than penalties and direct free-kicks.