Messi: I need to work on my penalty taking

Barcelona icon Lionel Messi has admitted that he needs to work on his penalty taking.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is widely regarded as the greatest player of all time and has scored an incredible 556 goals in 642 games since breaking into the Barcelona first-team back in the 2004/05 season.

Messi has also helped the Blaugrana to nine La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns during that time but has now admitted he would like to improve his record from the spot.

The 31-year-old missed a penalty against Iceland during the World Cup and has been less than convincing from 12-yards during his career.

Messi told Catalunya Radio (via Goal) prior to Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga win over Real Sociedad: “I would like to be more effective from the penalty spot.

“But it’s difficult to work on penalties. It’s not the same taking them in training as it is in a game. You can have an idea in your head or something you have worked on, but it’s more difficult than it seems.

“The goalkeeper has a lot to do with it, too. If they guess right, they save it. But it’s obvious that I’d like to get better at taking penalties.”

After spending much of his career playing as a false nine, Messi has reverted to a wide right position for Barcelona this season.

This hasn’t slowed him down at all, with Messi scoring four goals and registering two assists in four La Liga games so far, winning the man-of-the-match award twice.

And on his new role in the team, Messi added: “It’s normal that your game evolves. When I made my debut I was 17.

“I played in a different position and in a different way back then. Football has changed since, as has my way of playing and moving around the pitch.

ON THIS DAY: In 2000, a 13-year-old boy called Lionel Messi arrived at La Masia.

• 642 games
• 556 goals
• 215 assists
• 33 trophies

Now, he's the most successful player in their history. pic.twitter.com/rugQzPKGsr

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 17, 2018

“I like where I play now the most. Teams sit deep and put a lot of people in the middle, so it’s easier getting the ball a little deeper and coming inside from further out. Moving to the wing means that a lot of the time, the full-back doesn’t know what they’re meant to do.

“In the middle, it’s harder to get the ball, because there are fewer spaces and a lot of bodies.”

Barcelona have made a perfect start to the La Liga season, winning all four of their games so far, their next game is at home to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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