Panenka: Messi's effort better than Totti and Zidane's

Antonin Panenka believes Lionel Messi's chipped penalty for Barcelona against Getafe on Tuesday was the best effort he has ever seen.

The former Czech international fathered the iconic penalty style when he lobbed in the decisive penalty in the 1976 European Championship final against West Germany. Since then, many players have attempted to replicate it from the spot.


Messi attempted his own Panenka in his side's 6-0 win over Getafe, and the 66-year-old feels it is further proof of how "amazing" the Argentine is.

"It is the best one I've ever seen: not too powerful, down the middle and looping," he told RAC 1. "His technique is impressive and the goal is just further proof of his amazing talent.

"I am happy that players try the Panenka penalty and that journalists talk about it and fans enjoy it.

"Players like Francesco Totti and Zinedine Zidane have also done it. But Messi is the most beautiful of all."