Lionel Messi scores 400th Barcelona goal

After scoring his 400th career goal for Barcelona, Alexis Nunes takes a look at a few more milestones Lionel Messi has his sights set on for the rest of his career.

Lionel Messi reached yet another milestone in Barcelona colours when he notched his 400th goal for the club in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Valencia at the Camp Nou.

He completed his fourth ton for the Blaugrana with the very last kick of the match, latching onto a long ball over the top and landing the milestone after tucking home the rebound after his initial shot was saved by Diego Alves.

It was Messi’s 278th league goal for the Primera Division leaders, with a further 75 coming in the Champions League, 32 in the Copa Del Rey, 10 in the Spanish Super Cup, four in the Club World Cup as well as one strike in the UEFA Super Cup.

Messi had become Barca’s all-time leading goalscorer in March last year when he exceeded Paulino Alcantara’s 369 goals for the club scored between 1912 and 1927.

“Messi and the forwards showed solidarity with the team,” Barcelona manager Luis Enrique said after the game. “They have given us what we always ask of them. They help to defend.”

The Argentina forward, who has won the Ballon d’Or on four occasions, also holds the record for leading goalscorer in a single La Liga season, with 50 in 2011-12.

Among a host of other records, he is also the joint record scorer in European Cup history on 75 goals, level with Cristiano Ronaldo. And he is also tied with Ronaldo for the most La Liga hat tricks, with both forwards having scored 24.

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