This is just an astonishing concept, even in the modern era.

Someone has compiled a video showing every one of the Barcelona-record 234 goals scored by Lionel Messi. (Who set the club record yesterday.) And limited it to 14 minutes of video.

Here is the link to that video, which I first saw on Twitter from the jogabonito site (@soccergirlqueen).

A couple of observations, after watching all 234:

Some of this may seem obvious, especially to Messi Watchers, but …

–An overwhelming number of his 234 goals are on the ground. I wasn’t charting this, but I’d guess that no more than 10 percent of Messi’s goals came in the air. Headers, that is. He is a very little guy, and goals come off his feet. I would think that a majority of great scorers get far more goals in the air than he does. And he takes penalties, of course, but they do not constitute a big number, as you might think they would. Another 15 percent, maybe? Less?

–Another really high fraction of his goals come off his left foot … and travel no more than 10 yards before they cross the goal line. it seems as if defenders ought to force him right at all times, because he doesn’t seem to want to shoot with his right foot. And certainly not from any distance.

–I was impressed by how many of his goals come after one or two touches. I’m not sure a half-dozen of his goals came at the front of a breakaway sequence. The vast number came on short, diagonal passes from teammates already encroaching on the box, and Messi takes a couple of touches and shoots. The number of goals in which he volleys directly from a cross … seems quite low. He traps the ball, then works with it, but quickly. And is not at all averse to popping it over the keeper.

–His ability to get off a shot with a couple of guys tracking him like bloodhounds is astonishing. His ability to slip between two defenders, like some sort of ghost, is remarkable, and some high fraction of his goals end up with only the goalkeeper between him and the goal.

–His knack for finishing. In nearly every game we see, elite athletes can’t quite put away a goal. Talking great players here. They seem to need two or three good chances for every goal. Messi, however, seems to convert at a much higher rate. If he is in the box, and the ball is at his feet … if he can shoot … he probably will score. Regardless of defenders, keepers or angles.

–Has any sports superstar, anywhere, any time, ever looked less like a great athlete than Lionel Messi? He is small. He is slight. He doesn’t seem particularly fast. Not many of his goals are remarkable; most seem almost pedestrian, in terms of length of shot and degree of difficulty. But he is amazingly quick, and his eye-foot coordination is just off the charts, and he is decisive in the box. He is able to instantly perceive the best (only?) method for sending the ball into the goal.

–And, yes, it is fair to wonder how many of his goals are a function of playing for the world’s greatest team, these past few years. For example, compare his prolific strike rate with Barcelona to his extreme trouble scoring for the Argentina national side. Conclusion? Messi would be great, but not otherworldly, in different circumstances than those he enjoys in Barcelona.

–Scoring goals is exceedingly difficult. We all have seen enough 0-0 matches to grasp that. But Messi makes scoring look easy. None has ever made it look easier, actually. And, in some was, less glamorous. Few long rockets off free kicks. Limited gymnastics in front of goal. Short shot, not struck particularly hard … in it goes.

Anyway, watch … and enjoy … unless you are a Madridista.