The goal, the first of two Messi scored in a 5-2 Barcelona win over Getafe in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup, was described by Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard as a "work of art."
Messi broke away two defenders in his own half, raced toward the Getafe goal and swerved away from two more defenders on the edge of the area before rounding keeper Luis Garcia and lifting the ball into the net from a tight angle.
The Argentine forward set up Xavi for the opening goal, and Eidur Gudjohnsen and Samuel Eto'o also scored for Barcelona.
Deportivo Coruna hosts Sevilla in the other Copa del Rey semifinal first leg on Thursday.
GERMANY. VfB Stuttgart moved into the final of the German Cup on Wednesday by beating VfL Wolfsburg, 1-0, on a goal by Antonio da Silva on Wednesday in the semifinal of the tournament. Stuttgart, still in the hunt for the Bundesliga crown in third place, plays Nuremberg in the German Cup final on May 26 in Berlin. Nuremberg beat Eintracht Frankfurt, 4-0, on Tuesday.
Elsewhere ...
FRANCE (Semifinals)
Tuesday:
Montceau Bourgogne 0 Sochaux 2 (Grax 95, Leroy 113) (OT).
Wednesday:
Marseille 3 (Ribery 27, Maoulida 54, Cisse 75) Nantes 0.
NETHERLANDS (Semifinals)
Wednesday:
Ajax 3 (Sneijder pen. 12, Gabri 66, Mitea 88) RKC 1 (own goal 32).
Thursday:
AZ vs. NAC
PORTUGAL (Semifinals)
Wednesday:
Sporting 2 (Moutinho 7, 9) Beira Mar 1 (Diarra 47).
Thursday:
Belenenses vs. Braga
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