Lionel Messi almost achieves career first during Inter Miami friendly with outrageous ‘Olimpico’ effort

Lionel Messi almost added a new page to his stunning goal collection after attempting to score direct from a corner.

The Argentine star was playing for Inter Miami in a pre-season friendly with FC Dallas as they prepare for the upcoming MLS season.

But as well as building up his fitness in the match, Messi was keen to try something that he's never successfully managed to do before.

Lining up to take an inswinging corner, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner attempted an 'Olimpico' by looking to curl the ball under the crossbar and into the net from the set piece.

An 'Olimpico' is a feat named after Argentina's Cesareo Onzari scored against reigning Olympic champions Uruguay in 1942.

Spotting Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes out of position, Messi intentionally aimed his pinpoint effort and nearly pulled it off.

Unfortunately for him, the Dutch shot-stopper showed brilliant reflexes to scramble back into position and keep it out.

While the effort was seen on TV, one fan's footage of the effort shows just how outrageous the goal would have been, had he pulled it off.

Messi will be desperate to pull off an 'Olimpico', with Inter Miami owner David Beckham and former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry both having pulled it off during their spells in the MLS.

Unfortunately for Inter Miami the game ended in a 1-0 defeat to FC Dallas, a pretty big shock considering the Florida side's star-studded team that featured Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

Inter Miami have just under a month to get prepared for the new MLS season with the campaign set to get underway against Real Salt Lake on February 21.