The biggest transfer of the summer happened earlier this week with one of the greatest footballers of all time Leo Messi officially signing on a free for Paris Saint-Germain after a long Barcelona spell that had lasted over two decades.
The Argentine forward has been an incredible history maker and record breaker over the years, and in this article, we list out 10 of the almost-impossible-to-break records he did set while at Barcelona.
- Most El Clasico goals
Messi holds the record of most goals in the El Clasico with 26 goals to his name against their arch-rivals from Madrid. He also holds the record for most appearances of all-time in the classic encounter at 45 (shared with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos).
- Longest scoring streak in LaLiga
In 2012/13 LaLiga season, Messi scored in 21 consecutive games (total of 33 goals) which spanned between gameweek 11 and 34 – that is indeed a record which will most likely never be broken.
- Top scorer and top assist provider in same LaLiga season
Of course, what marks Messi out as a football legend from all others in history and recent times is his ability to assist and score in equally tremendous numbers. He’s the only player on record to finish a LaLiga season as both the top scorer and top assist provider – even more impressive, he’s done it three times! He provided 50 goals and 15 assists in 2011/12, 34 goals and 12 assists in 2017/18, and 25 goals and 12 assists in 2019/20.
- All-time top scorer for LaLiga
Messi is undeniably the greatest player to grace LaLiga and his GOAT status is cemented with the remarkable 474 goals he’s scored for Barca in the league. For context, Cristiano Ronaldo is second on LaLiga’s all-time scorers list and the Portuguese lags by over a hundred goals at 311.
- Most teams scored against in the Champions League
Messi has scored against a record 36 different teams in the UEFA Champions League with Ronaldo following closely with 35. Ronaldo however beats the Argentine for most goals in the competition with a record 134, with Messi placing second with 120.
- Most goals in a season in official club competitions
Messi’s performance in the 2011/12 season is no doubt one for the ages. He scored a record 73 goals in only 60 appearances for Barcelona that season.
- Most goals in a calendar year (91)
Messi scored a massive 91 goals in 2012 – another record which will most likely never be broken. He got 84 for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina that year.
- Top scorer for same club (672)
For Barcelona, there will never be another Leo Messi. He’s their all-time top scorer with 672 goals, and that’s quite enough to beat Pele’s equally stupendous tally of 643 goals for Santos.
- Player with most European Golden Shoes (6)
Since the award came to be in 1966/67, no player has accumulated as many Golden Shoes as Messi. He won it six times, and they came in 2009/10, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19.
- Player with most Ballons d’Or (6)
The Ballon d’Or award has largely been a two-way contest between Messi and Ronaldo for close to 15 years now, but it is the former that has gotten the most of the prestigious trophy (6). Messi’s six Ballons d’Or came in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019. This year, many have in fact touted Messi to pick his seventh Ballon d’Or following his Copa America breakthrough.
If you are a fan of football betting, you would have noticed that bookmakers even have him as the most favoured player (1.4 odds) to win the award this year.