My column this week is a little tribute to Lionel Messi – Welcome To Messi-Land – after he reached 500 games (official and friendlies) for Barcelona this past weekend.
As promised in the paper, I also had a look at some of Messi's most incredible stats/records, and listed them below.
Messi's World records
- Youngest three-time winner of the Ballon d'Or in January 2012 (24 years, 6 months and 17 days.
- Only person to win four consecutive Ballon d'Or trophies (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).
- Top scorer in one season of official matches: 73 goals in 2011/12 (50 in La Liga, 14 in Champions League, 3 in Cup, 3 in the Spanish Supercup, 1 in the European Supercup and 2 in the Clubs World Cup.
- Top goalscorer in a calendar year: 91 goals in 2012. 84 for Barça (59 in the Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Spanish Cup, 2 in the Spanish Supercup) and 12 for Argentina.
- Longest scoring run in La Liga (33 goals in 21 consecutive games (2012/13).
Messi' European records
- All-time top goalscorer in the Champions League, (reached 74 goals in 2014/15 season).
- Only player to be top goalscorer in the Champions League for four consecutive seasons (2008/09 to 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in a European league (50 goals in 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in home matches in a league season (35 goals at the Camp Nou in Liga 2011/12).
- Top goalscorer in away matches in a league season (24 goals in Liga 2012/13).
- Most games scoring away from home (24 goals in 15 games in Liga 2012/13).
- Top goalscorer in second half of La Liga (28 goals in the Liga 2011/12).
- Only top goalscorer and top supplier of assists in the same season (50 goals and 15 assists (tied with Özil of Real Madrid) in Liga 2011/12).
- Top overall goalscorer in a season: 75 goals in 2011/12 (50 in La Liga, 14 in the Champions League, 3 in the Cup, 3 in the Spanish Supercup, 1 in the European Supercup, 2 in the Clubs World Cup and 2 in friendlies).
- First player to score in every game for half of a Liga season (30 goals in 19 consecutive games in Liga 2012/13.
I hope you enjoy the read as much as we are all enjoying the Argentine's current form.
Cheers,
David
