Lionel Messi, on Sunday, scripted a unique record after netting the second goal for Barcelona against Eibar in their La Liga encounter. With the successful strike, Messi became the first player in La Liga history to score 400 goals hence extending his goals tally in the Spanish top flight’s history. The milestone came in Messi’s 435th appearance for the club. Barcelona defeated the visitors 3-0 at Camp Nou.
Messi had scored his first goal for the Spanish giants in 2005 against Albacete at the age of 17 years. 14 years hence, he is now the top scorer in the league. Aritz Aduriz comes in next in the list among the present bunch of La Liga players with 157 goals in 422 matches.
The Argentine, however, became the second player to reach the mark of 400-plus goal in the history of Europe’s 5 leagues after Portuguese superstar and Messi’s long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo (409 goals), reaching the milestone in 63 games fewer
Messi’s 400 goals for Barcelona includes 83 braces and 31 hat-tricks and stands 89 strikes clear of the league’s second-highest all-time scorer Ronaldo, who is followed by Telmo Zarra – who scored 251 goals for Athletic Bilbao between 1940 and 1955. Overall, Messi has scored 575 goals for Barcelona across all competitions.
In the match against Eibar, Luis Suarez opened the scoresheet in the first half before Messi doubled the lead in the 53rd minute. The Uruguayan put the final nail in the coffin six minutes later. The goal was Messi’s 25th goals in just 23 matches and 17 in the league this season.
The win put Barcelona five points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the La Liga points table. Messi has already won nine league titles with the Spanish giants and is en route to complete a La Decima at Camp Nou.
