Barça have gone two years without scoring a free-kick: Bring Messi back!

There are infinite reasons to hope that Leo Messi will return to Barcelona. One of them, probably not the most important, but very significant, is that at last Barça might be able to return to celebrating goals from free-kicks. And it is as unprecedented as it is worrying the non-existent record since the Argentine left. This Tuesday, May 2, marks the second anniversary of his last free-kick goal in a Blaugrana shirt -- and Barça's last as well.

Messi is a consummate free-kick taker. There came a time at Barça when it was even said that he was more accurate with free kicks than with penalties. And he didn't miss many.

In the 778 games he played in Barça first team, the greatest footballer of all time scored 50 goals from free kicks. Especially in the last few years, he became a specialist thanks to his talent, but also to his voracity and perseverance, proving it time and time again in training. 

Espanyol & Athletic

The teams that conceded the most free-kick goals from Messi's magical left foot were Espanyol and Athletic Club, with six each. They were closely followed by Sevilla, who conceded five.

Celta and Atlético Madrid conceded three free-kick goals from Messi and arch-rivals Real Madrid two, as well as Alavés, Almería, Reala Betis, Deportivo and Villarreal.

Also witnessing Leo's free-kick success on one occasion were La Liga teams Girona, Leganés, Osasuna, Real Sociedad, UD Las Palmas, Valencia and Valladolid, and in Europe, Ajax, Dynamo Kiev, Liverpool, Olympiacos and PSV Eindhoven.

His record for free-kick goals came in the 2018/2019 season, when he hit a whopping eight goals from free-kicks.