“Goal for Life” is a groundbreaking digital piece created by Refik Anadol, inspired by Argentine football icon Lionel Messi as he chooses his favorite goal from a remarkable career that boasts over 860 scores.
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has teamed up with digital artist Refik Anadol to transform his favorite career goal into a groundbreaking AI artwork, Living Memory: Messi – A Goal in Life. The piece, unveiled at Christie’s New York on June 11, reimagines Messi’s unforgettable header from the 2009 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United, a moment that sealed Barcelona’s 2-0 victory and historic treble. Titled A Goal in Life, the project blends sport, technology, and philanthropy, with proceeds from its July 8–22 auction supporting education programs in Latin America and the Caribbean through the Inter Miami CF Foundation and UNICEF.
Lionel Messi scores a header in the UEFA Champions League match between Barcelona and Manchester United, played in Rome, May 2009.
Messi, who has scored over 860 goals across his 20-year career with Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami, called the 2009 header his most meaningful moment. “Choosing just one goal is tough—each is special—but this one stands out,” he said, citing its emotional weight. Anadol, a pioneer in AI-driven art, used millions of data points—motion tracking, biometric voice data, and crowd reactions—to craft an eight-minute, 16K-resolution “data sculpture.” The immersive work, described as a “memory temple,” captures Messi’s physical and emotional state, from his heartbeat to the Stadio Olimpico’s roar.
The artwork, co-signed by Messi and Anadol, will be displayed at Christie’s Rockefeller Center from July 12 to 22, with a free public exhibition alongside the online auction. Fans on X are buzzing, with one calling it “a game-changer for art and football.” The project, curated by Ximena Caminos and directed by Xavier Roca, underscores Messi’s charitable legacy, building on his work with the Leo Messi Foundation. As anticipation grows for a record-breaking sale, this fusion of sport and AI invites fans to relive a historic moment.
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