Lionel Messi has equalled Pele’s all-time record for goals scored with a single club by netting his 643rd career goal for Barcelona.
The Argentine has played his entire professional career at Camp Nou, having moved to Spain as a teenager from Newell’s Old Boys in order to continue with his vital growth hormone treatments.
And, since making his competitive debut in 2004 under Frank Rijkaard, he has matched or beaten countless all-time records in football – even some that, like Pele’s, were once thought to be unassailable.
Saturday’s goal against Valencia just before half-time was his 643rd strike for the Catalans, excluding friendly matches.
Unusually for a player not exactly known for his prowess in the air, Messi used his head to pull Barca back level at 1-1 at Camp Nou, a vital goal as Ronald Koeman’s men look to reignite their spluttering Liga campaign. Continue reading