In the 2011 Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid, Lionel Messi delivered one of the most unforgettable goals in football history.

Picking up the ball near midfield, he drifted forward with ghostlike elegance, gliding past four defenders who seemed powerless to stop him. With every touch, he appeared untouchable—slipping through spaces that didn’t seem to exist. As the Bernabéu held its breath, Messi finished the move with surgical precision, sliding the ball into the net and silencing the stadium.

It was more than a goal—it was a haunting reminder of his brilliance. From that night on, many began to call him “The Ghost.”