With Barcelona’s triumph Zlatan Ibrahimovic won his seventh consecutive league winner’s medal. That is, he has won the league with whichever club he has played for, for the last seven seasons in a row. Just incredible. The record:

Ajax
Eredivisie:
2003–04

Juventus
Serie A:
2004–05, 2005–06 (pre- Calciopoli )

Internazionale
Serie A:
2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09

Barcelona
La Liga
2009-2010

Now he has his detractors, and undoubtedly has fallibilities, but you just can’t argue with the consistent level of success. Leading the line for each of those clubs he has won every one of them the league across three different countries. I can’t be sure, but I think he is unique in this – it’s never been done before.

He also scored potentially my favourite ever goal:

And also the other day he responded to a question about his sexuality from a journalist (after this picture):

By answering: ‘Come round to my house and I’ll show you if I’m gay. And bring your sister’.

You may hate him, you may not rate him, but you have to respect that winning record, that goal, and that comeback…

This comes from United’s 5-0 destruction of Portsmouth; it didn’t lead to a goal, but was pretty special… (Start at 5.10)

To have the presence of mind to realise that’s the only way you can get Valencia in, and possessing the ability to actually do it, are a breathless combination. Not many other players could do what Berbatov does there.

Berbatov is a mercurial talent, undoubtedly hugely gifted but laconic and peripheral too much of the time. I heart him. Why you like him is summed up well in this post that I’ve stolen from Football365′s forum:

If Berbatov was my lone striker I’d probably yearn for someone more hardworking. But United have Rooney.

Berbatov for me is just a joy to watch. I could excuse his goal tally or point out how he gets loads of assists and how the team gets better results when he plays with Rooney, but ultimately I don’t really care, I grew up wanting to be Eric Cantona, while everyone else wanted us to sign Shearer my dream signing would have been Matt Le Tisser. I don’t care if Berbatov is a lazy poser, he does things like that lofted ball over the defender for Valencia yesterday that make me go ‘yay!’, and in a squad that’s full of people who’ll run all day (Rooney, Evra, Park, Fletcher) I think there’s room for a player who’s all about finesse.

I never thought Nani would feature here, because he’s shit. But today (and in fairness in the last couple of games) he has actually looked good. And he capped those good performances with a spectacular goal against Arsenal. Whether the finish was deliberate is debatable (actually it’s not, it wasn’t) but the turn that beat two men out wide was genuine class. A moment of genius, you could say…

As Jamie Redknapp just said, kids will go out and try that tomorrow. One of those rare moments that are talked about in the playground. Admittedly I’ve seen him try that trick a number of times before, but the position and timing – and execution – of this iteration was just perfect, taking two defenders out of the game. And allowing him to attack and beat a third at pace. The finish was fortuitous but the build up was breathtaking.

I’m not quite sure when Nani became good – or even if he is – but that was certainly impressive. He set up Rooney’s goal too (United’s second). Could he finally be stepping up to the plate…? Or is this just a slightly extended flash in the pan. Time will tell.

Incidentally that video came from 101greatgoals, who we harp on about endlessly – but there really is no better nor more comprehensive source of highlights.

The next in our series of genuine ‘genius’ moments – Guti’s assist in Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Deportivo last night. Just brilliant.

The awareness, skill, and chutzpah to pull that off are just breathtaking. And don’t underestimate Benzema’s appreciation of the situation, without which the whole thing would have been rather embarrassing…

Chelsea fan Andrew Walker recalls two great Champions League moments…

Chelsea and Barcelona have carved out one of the most fascinating rivalries of the modern Champions League era. Their meetings in recent years have produced huge drama, and some goals of supreme quality.

Two stand out as true moments of genius.

Ronaldinho’s strike at Stamford Bridge gave Barca a precious second away goal, before John Terry’s late header saw Chelsea win 4-2 on the night and progress. No back lift, outside of the boot, and arguably the best goalkeeper in the world did not move a muscle. Genius.

Frank Lampard can always be relied upon to deliver for Chelsea on the big stage. His group stage equaliser in the Nou Camp was an exquisite chip from an impossible angle. Most players would not possess the vision to attempt the shot, let alone the ability to execute it. Genius.

With the possiblity of the two sides renewing rivalries in the latter stages of the 2008/09 Champions League, we can look forward to more moments to savour.

Footballsup Moments of Genius – those rare but beautiful occasions when someone produces something breathtaking, something out of this world, unattainable by mere mortals.

Fernando Torres produced one yesterday in the Merseyside derby, controlling and then backheel-volleying a perfect through ball for Steven Gerrard to drill past Tim Howard. Still recovering from injury and off the pace, Torres can still provide that moment of match turning genius.

Click here to see it in all its glory.

Footballsup Moments of Genius – those rare but beautiful occasions when someone produces something breathtaking, something out of this world, unattainable by mere mortals. A moment of genius.

The first in our series sees Dimitar Berbatov, with a sublime piece of skill, beat James Collins on the bye-line and slip the ball across to give Ronaldo a chance he can barely miss.