Messi Goal Recreated with Illustrations from 120 Grassroot Soccer Participants

Lionel Messi’s iconic group stage goal for Argentina against Algeria became Grassroot Soccer’s favorite World Cup highlight when viral artist Rudy Willingham worked with more than 100 Grassroot Soccer participants from Zambia, South Africa, and the United States to recreate the goal with their unique artistic interpretations.

120 youth each drew a single frame from the video replay of the goal, which Rudy brought to life in an incredible video that’s been viewed over 200,000 times across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Thank you, Rudy, for inspiring creativity in Grassroot Soccer’s youth, celebrating the global impact of the beautiful game, and showcasing what can be achieved when we work together as a team.