Haaland: A Direct Shot Is the Best Choice, but Messi Is an Exception! He Can Beat Multiple Players Before Scoring!

Recently, UEFA published an interview with Haaland discussing his unique playing style. Since his focus is on scoring goals, the core topic was how to score more effectively. When talking about goals, Haaland inevitably mentioned one of the most prolific goalscorers in history—Messi. He said that for most players, the best way to shoot is to take a direct shot; the faster the shot, the less time the goalkeeper has to react. However, Messi is a special presence. He has exceptional technique and can still successfully shoot after continuous dribbling because goalkeepers often cannot predict his rhythm.

Haaland's scoring efficiency is very high. During the World Cup period, he and Norway were able to compete with top players such as Messi, Mbappe and Kane. He once reached the milestone of 300 club goals in a Premier League match, an impressive achievement despite having played fewer than 400 matches. He has not yet matched Messi and is only dozens of appearances behind Ronaldo, but his record is already outstanding.

When discussing how to achieve efficient finishing, Haaland mentioned Messi again. He explored the concept of a "high-quality finishing shot," pointing out that there is no clear standard answer. If it must be defined, a high-quality shot is one that goes to a position where the goalkeeper cannot make a save. He emphasized that if the ball is right at his feet and he feels there is an opportunity to shoot, a powerful first-time strike is the ideal choice because it makes it difficult for the goalkeeper to react. Taking an extra touch could give the opponent more time to respond.

Of course, there are also some exceptions, and Haaland specifically mentioned Messi, calling him the only exception. Messi can still shoot and score after beating six or seven opponents in succession, and this is also a high-quality finishing method because goalkeepers simply cannot figure out Messi's intentions. Even if a goalkeeper guesses the direction, it is still difficult to completely stop Messi's attack.