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The news that football legend Johan Cruyff has died has led some to ask whether Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were paying tribute to the Dutchman with their recent outrageous penalty.
The Barcelona strikers combined during last month's 6-1 win over Celta Vigo to score from the spot in a fashion reminiscent of one of Cruyff's defining moments.
Instead of shooting direct from the penalty spot, Messi rolled the ball to his right before Suarez ran on to it and thumped it into the back of the net.
In 1982, Cruyff and his Ajax team-mate Jesper Olsen did the same thing in a match against Helmond Sport.
Former Barcelona player Cruyff spoke about the penalty, revealing it had made him "very happy".
"It made me very happy what Messi did," Cruyff said. "I don't know if he saw [my own] move, maybe he did, but if anyone can do anything like that, it is him. Then I saw people were talking about my penalty. It makes you happy for people to remember you after so many years. It's lovely - the things football gives you."
Johan Cruyff - life in picturesShow all 12 1 /12Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Unrivalled success at Ajax After joining the Ajax youth system on his 10th birthday, Johan Cruyff made his debut in 1964 before going on to win eight Eredivisie titles and the European Cup on three occasions with the Dutch giants
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Setting the European agenda Cruyff was an integral figure behind Ajax’s dominance in continental football as the Dutch outfit lifted three consecutive European Cups between 1971-73.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Reaching the World Cup final The forward’s colourful exploits allowed the Netherlands to reach the World Cup final in 1974 but he couldn’t help see off an imperious Germany side at Munich's Olympic Stadium. He scored 33 goals for Oranje in 48 appearances between 1966-1977.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Dutch royal approval Cruyff and his fellow team-mates nonetheless earned legendary status among the wider Dutch public and they were given a heroes’ welcome by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands when they returned home in 1974.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures The ‘Cruyff turn’ Now a global superstar, the enigmatic forward wrote himself into football folklore after perfecting the ‘Cruyff turn’ which is still being copied by modern day footballers today.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Success across the globe Before being voted as European Player of the Century, Cruyff also represented Barcelona, Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, Levante and Feyenoord. At the Nou Camp, he added La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs to his glittering CV.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Trying his hand at management Just a year after retiring from playing, Cruyff returned to Ajax as manager where his unyielding success continued with two KNVB Cups and the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup before leaving to take charge at Spanish juggernauts Barcelona.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Revolution at Barcelona Cruyff led a period of revolution at the Catalan giants, lifting four La Liga titles and one European Cup as rivals Real Madrid were muzzled both domestically and on the European stage by his Barca side.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Becoming a TV personality Fresh from his spell at the Nou Camp, Cruyff then became a prominent television personality, providing his unrivalled experience to Dutch audiences.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Stripped of honorary presidency Cruyff was a controversial figure at Barcelona, however, and was named honorary president before being stripped of the title just months later after new president Sandro Rosell took office in July 2010.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Ajax return Ajax called upon Cruyff’s services again in 2011, appointing him as an advisor, but the Amsterdam legend left just a year later after quelling with senior figures at the club.
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Johan Cruyff - life in pictures Legacy in football Cruyff remained a prominent figure in the world of football and was given the support of Barcelona's current generation when news of his deteriorating health was made public in 2015.
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Messi did not speak about why he performed the move but his rival Cristiano Ronaldo made a cryptic comment when asked about it.
“I know why he did it and I am not going to say anything more than that. You can think whatever you like,” said Ronaldo.
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