Ansu Fati with 'Messi-like' celebration for first El Clasico goal
The young Barcelona forward celebrated the goal against Real Madrid in the same way that Lionel Messi marked his first La Liga goal for the club.
Ansu Fati became the youngest El Clasico goal-scorer in over 70 years when he equalised for Barcelona after just eight minutes at the Camp Nou on Saturday. Despite being nine days shy of his 18th birthday the Spanish forward looked perfectly at home on the big stage and calmly slotted Jordi Alba’s cross past Thibaut Courtois.
Hopes are understandably high for the youngster with Barcelona in need of a new direction after losing some key players in the close season. Fati underlined his promise with a fine performance in the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid and his celebration will have Barca fans casting their minds back to another exception talent.
Fati mimics Messi's first celebration
After drawing his side level with Real Madrid Fati spun away to celebrate with his teammates before leaning down to kiss the Barcelona crest on his shirt. Having now spent eight years at the club the celebration was clearly an emotional one for the youngster and it evoked memories of Lionel Messi’s first goal for the club.
The Argentinian came off the bench against Albacete in 2005 to score his first La Liga goal with a nonchalant chip over the advancing goalkeeper. He too was embraced by his teammates after scoring and planted a kiss on the club badge.
The parallels go further. Messi’s goal was assisted by Barcelona’s talismanic No. 10 Ronaldinho, who lifted the ball over the defence for the youngster to run onto. Flash forward 15 years and it was Messi who provided a brilliant lofted pass to set Barcelona on the attack for Fati's goal. After Ronaldinho and Messi, is Fati the heir to the throne?
Celebrations hold a meaning for Barca’s newest star
Today’s consolation goal was Fati’s first in El Clasico and he recently made history as the youngest scorer in the history of the Spanish national team. After scoring September's 4-0 Nations League victory over Ukraine he headed straight to a TV camera to celebrate the record-breaking goal.
Speaking after the match he explained that he wanted to celebrate with his sister, whose birthday he missed while away with the Spanish squad. Fati said that she had asked him to dedicate a goal to her if he found the back of the net for the national team and he was only too happy to oblige.
More recently he dedicated his midweek goal against Ferencvaros to his brother who has recently become a father. Fati did the ‘rock the baby’ celebration that first came to prominence with the Brazilian strike force of Romario and Bebeto at the 1994 World Cup.