Lionel Messi's ‘most meaningful goal’ to be turned into art. It was a header.

Lionel Messi's treasured goal, which he calls the 'most meaningful' yet, is set to be immortalised by Turkish artist Refik Anadol. Messi's club Inter Miami posted a short video on the unveiling of the art, which is expected on June 11.

The attacker, widely regarded as the greatest of all time, has scored 860 career goals so far, of which at least 719 were converted with his favoured left foot. However, the special one that Messi has chosen to be turned into a masterpiece is one of his 28-headed goals.

The goal was scored for FC Barcelona against Manchester United in the final of the 2009 Champions League in Rome. It was the second goal in a 2-0 win for the Spanish giants. Why that goal? "because of the moment it happened, because of what it meant, because it crowned an unforgettable year," Messi said.

That season was Barcelona's first under Pep Guardiola, now one of the all-time great managers. That season, Barcelona won their first treble, which comprised the La Liga title, the Cope del Rey, and the European triumph. "For me, it's the most meaningful goal of all... it's the header goal in the Champions League final against Manchester," Messi said.

The goal came when Alex Ferguson's United were desperate to find an equaliser. A poor clearance from Edwin Van de Sar gifted Barcelona possession, and Xavi crossed for Messi from the edge of the area. The diminutive attacker was in a space between the lanky centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and the aerial ball was behind him. But Messi arched his body to get a connection, which directed the ball home in a loop over the goalkeeper.

Messi won three other Champions League finals and 10 La Liga titles among a bagful of club titles, and, of course, the coveted FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022. Most of his goals were magical, the end product of sublime dribbles, not fired in but rather caressed into a grateful net while leaving a host of hapless defenders in his wake. But who can argue when the magician says the one closest to his heart is one of his 28 headers?