Messi, one of two players with more than 100 goals in UEFA club competition, left Barcelona this summer, capping a phenomenal 20-year career. Now he plays for Paris Saint-Germain. The milestones, records and extraordinary achievements has been coming for him.
Lionel Messi at 35: What records does he hold?
Club records
- Most UEFA Champions League group stage goals: 74 (71 for Barcelona)
- Most UEFA Champions League round of 16 goals: 28
- Most UEFA Champions League goals for single club: 120 (Barcelona)
- Most UEFA club competition goals for single club: 123 (Barcelona)
- Most Ballon d’Or awards: 7
- Most Liga goals: 474
- Most Liga goals in a single season: 50 (2011/12)
- Most goals in a calendar year: 79 (2012 – or 91 including goals for Argentina)
- Most Liga hat-tricks: 36
- Most Liga titles won by a foreign player: 10
- Most ESM Golden Shoes: 6
National team
- Most Argentina caps: 162
- Most Argentina goals: 86
- Most goals for South American nation: 86
- Youngest Argentinian to score at a World Cup: 18 years 357 days
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It makes sense as production tends to decline when most professional footballers retire in their mid-30s. We are aware that Messi does not represent “the majority of footballers”, but since 2010-11, very few players who have reached the age of 35 have been able to contribute to 20 or more goals in a single season.