After scoring a goal against Real Madrid in 2017, Messi set off a fever that is still remembered to this day.

When Messi faced Real Madrid, how did he celebrate?

At the Santiago Bernabeu on April 23, 2017, Lionel Messi scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds to help Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 3-2. Messi celebrated his 500th goal for Barcelona by removing his shirt and presenting it to the Madrid supporters along with his shirt number. Real Madrid supporters, of course, did not approve of this behaviour, but it was a historic El Clasico that will go down in history.

Actually, this was Messi’s second goal of the game; his first came from an equaliser that negated Casemiro’s opening goal in the 33rd minute. Then, in the 73rd minute, Barca took the lead and appeared to be winning until James Rodriguez equalised with five minutes left. But in stoppage time, Messi crushed the hearts of Real Madrid supporters by putting the ball past Keylor Navas after receiving a deft cutback pass from Jordi Alba.

Messi, however, paid a minor price for infuriating Real Madrid players and supporters when he was given a yellow card by referee Alejandro Hernandez for removing his shirt during the celebration.

What gave rise to Messi’s celebratory “shirt-hanging”?

Messi was not the first to lift his shirt in front of the supporters, despite the fact that his celebration against Real Madrid was extremely unusual (as it is now illegal to take off your shirt to celebrate).

Messi may have been inspired by former Barcelona great Ronaldinho, who celebrated by holding up his shirt after Paris Saint-Germain scored in their most recent Classique victory. It’s unclear where Messi got the inspiration for this. 2002 saw Marseille.

In front of Messi, a few other players had also lifted their shirts in celebration, which may have encouraged him as well. For instance, in 2009, after helping Lyon defeat Marseille, Brazilian star Juninho Pernambucano removed his shirt and raised it in the air.

The relationship with Brazil was furthered when Marcelo, the full-back for Real Madrid, lifted his shirt in joy following his goal against Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final.