Messi surpasses Pelé milestone with help from Barca teenager
By JOSEPH WILSONDecember 23, 2020 GMT
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Lionel Messi broke Pelé’s all-time scoring milestone for their clubs by netting his 644th career goal for Barcelona on Tuesday, while Atlético Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0 to increase its lead of the Spanish league.
Messi, who helped Barcelona win 3-0 at Valladolid, had equaled Pelé’s all-time scoring tally on Saturday. His 643rd career goal for Barcelona since his 2004 debut matched Pelé’s tally for Santos from 1957-74.
For his 644th Barcelona’s third of the night Messi had help from 18-year-old Pedro “Pedri” González.
La Liga roundup: Lionel Messi equals Pele’s 643 club goals record as Barca draw against Valencia AP
Barcelona: Lionel Messi has another individual scoring milestone, but he sure doesn’t have a team that looks like a champion.
Messi equalled Pelé’s all-time club scoring tally Saturday in a 2-2 draw with Valencia. His 643rd career goal for Barcelona since his 2004 debut matched Pelé’s tally for Santos from 1957-74.
Messi is Barcelona’s and the Spanish league’s all-time leading scorer.
In January 2018, he became the most prolific scorer among Europe’s top leagues when he reached 366 league goals, surpassing Gerd Mueller’s Bundesliga mark of 365. Messi had already surpassed Gerd Mueller’s single-year goal mark by scoring 86 times in 2012.
Barcelona s Lionel Messi, right, takes a shot at goal during a Spanish La Liga football match against Valencia at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort).
Lionel Messi reached another personal scoring milestone in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Valencia in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Messi s 643rd career goal for Barcelona since his 2004 debut matched Pele’s tally for Santos accumulated from 1957-74. Messi is Barcelona’s and the Spanish league’s all-time leading scorer.
The latest setback by Barcelona left Ronald Koeman’s team in fifth place and eight points adrift of league leader Atletico Madrid, which got two goals by Luis Suarez to help beat Elche 3-1.