Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi is now the only player to have scored the most goal in a single goal after breaking Pele’s record with his 644th goal for the Catalan giant during their 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid.
The 33-year-old Argentina forward scored Barca’s third when he collected Pedri’s backheel, took a touch and then slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jordi Masip.
He was also the creator of the first goal as his cross was headed in by Clement Lenglet. He was also involved in the second as the move began with him. Martin Braithwaite smartly finished the move to put the Blaugrana in cruise control.
Messi would have got a brace but his shot hit the post in injury time.
Brazil legend, Pele had during his playing days scored 643 goals in 19 seasons for Santos in his homeland between 1956 and 1974.
Messi, who opened his goals account for Barca in 2005. He has gone on to win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues since.
CHALLENGE ACHIEVED! ✅
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 22, 2020
🔥 Leo #Messi 🐐 https://t.co/68aak8QaqX
However, this could be his last season in th colours of Barca as he will be out of contract at the end of the season. Come January 1, he will be able to talk to other clubs from.
Messi had in August wanted to exercise a clause in his deal which he said allowed him to leave on a free transfer, but Barcelona refused, saying his 700m euro (£624m) release clause had to be met.
Earlier this week, he revealed the incidents that caused him to have “a very bad time in the summer”. The talisman was superb against Valladolid on Tuesday, inspiring a win that took Barcelona back up to fifth, eight points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.
What’s next for Messi after breaking Pele’s record?
Now that he is now the all-time highest goal scorer in a single club, one would ask the record is left for Messi to break?
Having won all the trophies he needed to win at the club level and broke records, the Barcelona all-time highest goal scorer will just need to add further to his tally, which could be hard for the new generations to break.
Reacting to his achievement via his Instagram page, Messi wrote: “When I started playing soccer, I never thought I would break a record. And even less the one that I achieved today that I had @pele … I can only thank everyone who helped me over the years, my teammates, my family, my friends and everyone who supports me every day. Hug!!”
It could be said that Messi had been lucky with injuries because out of his 13 year seasons he has only been injured for a long time in one season.
Despite these remarkable achievements at the club level, Messi has not lifted a single title with the Argentine national team. At 33 which diminishing return is expected to start setting in, it could be a tall order to win anything with Argentina. But the Copa America will be held next year.
Far and wide, Messi is respected. So, it will take a special player to break these records he has set.
The icing on the cake will be to win the Copa America at least with Argentine and probably next World Cup. Messi will definitely fancy that.
