Lionel Messi, Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning star, has scored over 800 goals. But have you ever wondered which one is his favourite? For Messi, it is a difficult question to answer given the sheer number of fascinating goals he has scored throughout his career.

However, to settle the question, Messi has now stepped up and revealed that the two goals he scored against France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar are not among his favourites. Despite winning the World Cup after four failed attempts, Messi did not choose either of those two goals as his favourite.

Instead, the legendary footballer picked a 2009 UEFA Champions League header for Barcelona against Manchester United as his favourite goal. It sealed Barcelona's 2009 Champions League final win over Manchester United. Messi revealed his favourite goal comes as part of the Inter Miami CF Foundation's ‘A Goal in Life’ charity initiative.

Barcelona had won the match 2-0, with Eto'o scoring in the 10th minute and Messi finding the net in the 70th minute on the night of May 27, 2009.

"I have scored many goals that might have been even more beautiful and valuable, also because of their importance, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favorite," Messi said, reflecting on his goals.

Messi, who stands at 5'7", jumped over United defender Rio Ferdinand to meet Xavi's cross, arching a header over goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

"It was hard to imagine that I was going to score with my head with Ferdinand standing near me, but I did not really have a marker — the ball came into the centre and I was there to meet it," he recounted.

Messi's goal helped Barcelona achieve a historic treble. "It was such an important goal in every sense: for the team, for the way the final was turning in our favour and for me, too. It is still one of my favourite goals," said Messi.

Messi's iconic Champions League goal will now be immortalized by celebrated digital artist Refik Anadol as a one-of-a-kind digital artwork. Anadol will use artificial intelligence to create a piece of art that embodies the moment, using thousands of data points from the match to compose millions of elements into the piece. To enable this creation, the audiovisual rights of the goal have been donated by UEFA.

Christie’s will auction the piece, and the money raised will go to education initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, in collaboration with UNICEF. The formal unveiling will occur on Christie’s website on June 11 and will then be available for public viewing from July 15 to 21 in New York. Online bidding will run until July 25, 2025.