Argentine star Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, revealed on Thursday that his favorite goal of all time is the header he scored against Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, back when he played for FC Barcelona. “I’ve scored plenty of goals, maybe even more beautiful or just as important, but that header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favorite,” the Rosario-born forward said in comments shared by his current club.

A moment turned into art

Messi made this choice as part of the charity campaign ‘A Goal in Life’, which aims to bring sports and art together for social good. The renowned digital artist Refik Anadol will turn that iconic goal into a unique work of art. “We met in Miami, and I’m excited to see how he can transform a football moment into a one-of-a-kind artistic creation,” said the World Cup winner.

That goal, which sealed the 2–0 win over Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, is etched into football history. Despite his modest height, Messi soared over 2.5 meters to meet a perfect cross from Xavi Hernández with a stunning header. He even lost a boot in the process — making the moment even more magical and unforgettable.

Technology meets emotion

Artist Anadol highlighted the deeper meaning behind the project, saying Messi’s goal “is more than just a big moment in sports. It’s a rich expression of human action, memory, and movement.” Using biosensing technology and advanced artificial intelligence trained on data from the event, Anadol aims to turn raw information into emotion — and memory into tangible art.

The initiative, led by the Inter Miami CF Foundation, is supported by UEFA, which granted the rights to use the footage of the goal to turn it into an accessible artwork. All proceeds will go toward promoting educational equity and creating opportunities for underserved kids and communities. The piece will officially debut on June 11 at Christie’s auction house in New York.