Lionel Messi does not get tired of playing, scoring and winning, so he does not stop overcoming records and breaking statistics.
If Ernesto Valverde plays the Barcelona captain for a few minutes in Saturday night's clash with Levante, Messi will play in his 450th game in LaLiga Santander. And if the Catalans secure the title, it will be Messi's 10th. No Barcelona player has ever won that many, and he would only be usurped by Real Madrid legend Paco Gento.
Messi is about to finish his 15th season in the Spanish top flight, and much has changed in that time. From the moment he made his debut in the Catalan derby against Espanyol in 2004/05 under Frank Rijkaard, where he played for barely eight minutes, the Argentine has exceeded all expectations that anybody ever could have had for him, smashing collective and personal records that had stood for decades.
Should Messi play against Levante and record his 450th appearance, he will only be trailing Xavi Hernandez after the Catalan played in 505 games for the Blaugrana in LaLiga Santander.
In the 449 matches to this point, Messi has played the full 90 minutes in 346 and has never received a straight red card. His record is staggering, too, as he has won 337 games, drawn 73 and lost 39. In addition, he has scored an incredible 415 goals.
His success in front of goal is still intact, season after season. The 2011/12 campaign was his most fruitful, scoring 50 goals. The 31-year-old has been able to win five Golden Shoe awards, the only player to have won so many, and he is on the verge of sealing his sixth. At present, Messi is ahead of Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon Kylian Mbappe by three goals, which means the Argentine cannot neglect the final weeks of the season in LaLiga Santander. Valverde will count on his captain for the four remaining games in the league, and Messi will be looking to heap more misery on Levante after scoring 10 goals against them in his last six games.
Barcelona can win their 26th LaLiga Santander title on Saturday, the 10th secured with Messi in the side. As noted, the No.10 will only have Gento ahead of him on 12 league titles, while he will equal another legendary footballer in the form of Pirri on 10. Messi has a contract with Barcelona until 2021, so he can further add to these outrageous statistics.
Elmar13
228
Like it or not! Hate him or Love him! The fact is 👇
Evans0323
126
Jesus Christ Messi has only lost 39 matches in his la liga career what a great record, there is no need to argue about this guy is the Goat 🐐 when arsenal have lost more than 40 games in 5 years in Epl
ArsenalAndBarçaFan
107
Before Messi, FC Barcelona had 16 laligas and 1 UCL With Messi Barça have 25 laligas (soon to be 26) and 5 UCLs (soon to be 6), the Messi effect
sheeji
55
One of the distinctive feature of Leo is he doesn't run after individual records he always prefers team performance and success....as he said
Yiwakmno
43
Say likewise to Pele. If the world greats are ignoring you black hearts your childish wish and fifa is not having that as a criteria you're going to burn in hell. Cr is roaming in his own continent and you're happy. Juve has already been winning before his presence. Messi could also join man city and you can imagine the effect. If cr had joined a sinking team to bring them up then I would've praised him.Messi came all the way from American continent to conquer Europe.But cr just roaming on his own just chasing money here and there. You're fuming because of ballon dor. The only thing cr can do better than Messi is womanising not talking of it consequences. Your hate, anger and jealousy doesn't reach anywhere.For your everlasting INFORMATION, Messi is only paying back what the club has done for him.He can't force himself out.He doesn't negotiate any payment like cr.He only enjoys the game.Besides the same rule applied to the game everywhere. There's no way barca is going to let him go as they know the effect. He's not going to turn his back against them as Madrid did to cr.If cr son likes Messi then who are you to hate him.