The Lionel Messi wonder goal against PSG last night lit up the game at the Parc des Princes. And now West Ham United ace Manuel Lanzini and the Barcelona superstar are the only two players to have scored a goal this season with an xG expectancy of 0.01.
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Simply put, xG is a metric that calculates the probability of a certain shot resulting in a goal. Looking at a historical data set of shots taken from different positions and which of those resulted in a goal, expected goals shows how many goals an average team could be expected to score from their shots.
Hammers ace Lanzini scored an absolute worldie earlier this season against Tottenham, earning his team a precious point in the process.
The strike from 30 yards out had an xG expectancy rating of 0.01 (Understat).
Up until last night, that was the only goal this season with a xG expectancy that low.
Lionel Messi wonder goal against PSG
Lionel Messi changed all that with his glorious strike for Barcelona against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last night (Sportskeeda).
The Barca ace has been in a class of his own over the past decade. Only Cristiano Ronaldo can compete with the numbers that the Argentine has put up.
When it comes to ridiculously good goals, however, Messi has company.
And it comes in the form of West Ham ace Manuel Lanzini.
The 27-year-old has been poor for the Hammers this season in truth.
His goal away at Tottenham earlier this season will never be forgotten, however. Much like Messi’s against PSG.
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