1st Copa America, 5th UCL, 7th Ballon d'Or and Messi's challenges for 2020

The year 2020 could be a very special one for Lionel Messi.

The Argentine is constantly being linked with a fresh start, so his time at Barcelona is more precious than ever.

Here are some of the challenges in front of him for the next 12 months.

1. Overtake Pele as the leading goalscorer for a single club

Pele scored 643 goals for Santos during his career, but that record for a single club could be beaten by Messi, who is just 25 goals behind on 618 for Barcelona.

2. Win his fifth Champions League

After five years without a Champions League trophy, Messi is hungrier than ever for success on the continent. If he's able to secure his fifth title, he'll move to within one of Paco Gento's record tally of six European Cups.

3. Win his ninth league title in 12 years

Since Messi broke into the first team, Barcelona have failed to win just five of the 16 league titles on offer. He's won a total of 10 league titles in his career and could make it nine in the last 12 years in 2020.

4. Return to being the king of cups

No club has won more Copas del Rey than Barcelona (30), with Athletic Club the next closest challenger on 23. Messi has two records to beat in 2020 - equal Jose Maria Belauste and Agustin 'Piru' Gainza as the players with the most Copa del Rey winners medals in history (eight).

The Argentine is also fifth in the competition's all time goalscoring list on 51 goals behind Telmo Zarra (81 goals), Josep Samitier (69), Guillermo Gorostiza (64) and Edmundo Suarez (55).

5. Win his seventh Ballon d'Or

Having achieved his sixth Ballon d'Or title and become the player with the most titles in the award's history in 2019, Messi is after more success in 2020.

6. Win the European Golden Boot for the fourth year in a row

Messi has been the top goalscorer in Europe for the last three seasons and could earn the title again this campaign. He's currently top scorer in LaLiga Santander with 13 goals but is a distance behind Robert Lewandowski, who leads the standings on 19 goals.

7. Win the most Pichichis in history

Having won six Pichichi trophies in his career, Messi is level with Zarra and could become the outright leader in the award this season.

8. Become the Barcelona player with the most Clasico appearances

Messi equalled Xavi's record of 42 Clasico appearances for Barcelona against Real Madrid in December and, once he plays his next game against Los Blancos, he'll become the outright Clasico appearance maker in the club's history.

9. Become the highest appearance maker in Barcelona history

Xavi (767 games) is the only player with more appearances in Barcelona history than Messi (705), but the Argentine could overtake him in 2020. It'll be difficult but, if injuries stay away, it's certainly doable before 2021.

10. Become the player with the most trophies for one single club

Only Ryan Giggs, who won 36 trophies with Manchester United, and Vitor Baia, who won 35 trophies with Porto, are ahead of Messi in this respect. The forward is currently on 34 trophies with Barcelona and will overtake both these players in the Catalan club win three trophies in 2020.

11. Become the highest goalscorer in Champions League history

Messi is currently 14 goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League goalscoring charts, but we'll see where both stand at the end of 2020.

12. Conquer South America with Argentina

Messi and Argentina have yet another chance to win silverware together when they take part in the Copa America in the summer. The tournament will be co-hosted by Argentina and Colombia, giving Messi the chance to lift a trophy with his country after final defeats in 2015 and 2016.