Messi surpasses Dani Alves to set new La Liga record

The right-back's tally of 422 appearances has now been overtaken, and the Argentine has racked up 387 goals and 166 assists in his La Liga career

Lionel Messi has broken the record for the most appearances in La Liga by a non-Spanish player.

Messi made his 423rd La Liga appearance when he was named in the Barcelona team for Sunday's home game against Girona, and scored the opening goal in the game.

The Argentina international overtakes a former Barcelona team-mate, Dani Alves, who previously occupied the record with 422 outings.

The striker has scored more than 380 goals and picked up over 160 assists during his 14-year La Liga career and has won the division nine times, a club record he shares with Andres Iniesta.

Messi is in a rich vein of form since taking the Barca captaincy, scoring a hat-trick in the 4-0 Champions League defeat of PSV last time out.

The 31-year-old also has four goals and two assists in five league matches so far this term, ensuring his club lead the Spanish top flight with a 100 per cent record as they look to defend their title.

Despite that impressive start to the campaign, Messi was not named as a finalist for FIFA's The Best Men's Player award, being snubbed in favour of Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

Golden Shoe 2017-18

Messi 'sad and low' after Champions League exit - Valverde

The Argentine and his team-mates have been urged to put their European withdrawal behind them and wrap up the Spanish league title

Ernesto Valverde said star Lionel Messi is hurting following Barcelona's stunning elimination from the Champions League, though he called on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner to move on.
Barca crashed out of the Champions League after surrendering a 4-1 first-leg lead to Roma, who won 3-0 on Tuesday to progress on away goals.

It was a night to forget for Messi and the Liga leaders in the Italian capital but Barca head coach Valverde said his team cannot dwell on the result ahead of Valencia's visit on Saturday.

Messi can't win the World Cup alone, says Argentina FA chief

While 'Chiqui' Tapia has no doubt his charge is the best player in the world, he also insists he will not win the trophy single-handed

Lionel Messi cannot win the World Cup on his own and needs his Argentina team-mates to raise their game to help him, says Argentina FA president Claudio Tapia.
Messi cut a folorn figure as Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, leaving him without the winners' medal that would help to cement his place in history alongside Pele and Diego Maradona as one of the game's greatest players.
Tapia – the president of the Argentina Football Association - acknowledged that this might be the 30-year-old's last opportunity to win the tournament, but said even the five-time Ballon d'Or winner wouldn't be able to guide Argentina to glory if his team-mates didn't perform at their best.

The perfect match: The night Messi’s Barcelona conquered Manchester United & Rome

The Argentine announced himself to the world with a superb showing which included a rare headed goal as the Catalans completed the treble in Italy

Nobody ever used to talk about trebles in Barcelona. Despite an illustrious history, the Catalan club claimed their first European Cup in 1992 and their maiden Champions League crown in 2006. They were not used to being the very best on a regular basis.
But in the summer of 2008, everything changed. Pep Guardiola took over as coach and immediately took the brave decision to dispense with Ronaldinho, believing the brilliant Brazilian would no longer be able to hit the heights of years gone by.
He was undoubtedly correct, with Ronaldinho having been a fading force at Camp Nou for some time. However, as one door closed, another opened, and Lionel Messi inherited the Brazilian's number 10 shirt.

Messi fitness concerns rejected by wary Roma after La Liga hat-trick heroics

Barcelona's superstar forward sustained a hamstring injury last month, but upcoming Champions League foes have seen little to suggest he is not fit

Eusebio Di Francesco has dismissed any lingering questions over Lionel Messi's fitness and wants Roma to restrict him again in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.
Messi missed Argentina's two friendlies last month with a hamstring injury and was only a substitute in Barca's 2-2 draw against Sevilla on March 31, but he was back in the starting line-up for the 4-1 victory over Roma at Camp Nou last Wednesday.
The 30-year-old was not among the goals in the first leg but hit a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Leganes on Saturday, Ernesto Valverde opting against resting the superstar.

Barcelona 3 Leganes 1: More Messi magic as hosts equal LaLiga record

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of LaLiga and equalled a competition record as they beat Leganes at home, courtesy of Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi was at his brilliant best with a hat-trick as Barcelona defeated Leganes 3-1 at Camp Nou to equal the all-time LaLiga unbeaten record.
Barca have now gone 38 top-flight matches without defeat, levelling the previous best mark by Real Sociedad which has stood since 1980.
Messi made it six straight LaLiga games with a goal by netting a wonderful free-kick shortly before the half-hour mark, and then swiftly got his second of the night after being set up by Philippe Coutinho.

Ronaldinho: Messi's better than Ronaldo & I'd love to play with him one more time!

The ex-Barcelona star did get to work with the mercurial Argentine at Camp Nou, but wishes he had longer with a man who has become an all-time great

Ronaldinho considers Lionel Messi to be a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo and wishes he had spent longer alongside the Argentine at Barcelona.
The Brazilian icon was at the peak of his powers at Camp Nou when a fresh-faced teenager emerged from the famed La Masia academy system.
The two South American stars complemented each other for a brief period, but Ronaldinho moved on to AC Milan in 2008.

'He's the best' - Valverde hesitant about resting Messi despite injury worries

The Argentine has been suffering with injuries in recent weeks, but his coach is keen to see him remain on the field

Ernesto Valverde is hesitant about resting Lionel Messi despite his recent injury problems as Barcelona look to equal LaLiga's all-time unbeaten record against Leganes on Saturday.
Messi suffered a muscular problem while away on international duty with Argentina at the end of March, ruling him out of friendlies against both Italy and Spain.
He was then named on the bench for Barca at Sevilla last time out in LaLiga, only being deemed fit enough to come on just before the hour mark, though he was still able to inspire a comeback as they ultimately drew 2-2 having been 2-0 down.

5 Untold story of Lionel Messi

1) Messi became the third youngest player when he played for Barcelona at the age of 17. He is also the youngest player to score for Barcelona.

Barcelona 4 Roma 1: Suarez off the mark after own goals tee up win

Barcelona look set for the last four of the Champions League after Luis Suarez capped a comfortable home win against Roma.

Luis Suarez scored in the Champions League for the first time this season as Barcelona, aided by two own goals, took a commanding 4-1 first-leg lead against Roma in their quarter-final.
The Uruguay international last found the back of the net in Europe in last term's incredible 6-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, but he restored Barca's three-goal cushion in the 87th minute after Edin Dzeko grabbed a late away goal.
Ernesto Valverde welcomed Lionel Messi, the match-winner against Chelsea in the previous stage, back into his starting XI following injury, but the Catalan side toiled until Roma shot themselves in the foot either side of half-time.

'Everything changes when Messi plays' - Jordi Alba sees Barcelona with the edge on rivals

The Spain international defender has always been a big fan of his Argentine team-mate and has once again taken the opportunity to sing his praises

When Lionel Messi plays “everything changes”, says Barcelona team-mate Jordi Alba.
The mercurial Argentine forward has been a talismanic presence at Camp Nou once again this season, with his 36-goal return keeping treble dreams alive.
La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League prizes remain up for grabs, with Messi having helped to inspire trophy challenges on multiple fronts.

Champions League all-time top scorers - Ronaldo, Messi & UCL goal kings

Who is in the lead in the race to become the all-time top scorer in Europe's leading club competition? We've taken a look at the top finishers

The Champions League has featured some of the best goalscorers in history.
As the premier club competition in Europe and arguably the world, it is a stage that has been graced by countless icons of football.
Striking sensations such as Raul and Andriy Shevchenko dominated during the 1990s and 2000s, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have taken the art of scoring to a whole new level.

Goal takes a look at the all-time top scorers in the competition's history, dating back to the inaugural European Cup in 1955.

Messi is the decisive factor – Simeone doubts late LaLiga title challenge

Diego Simeone does not appear convinced by Atletico Madrid's LaLiga title chances because of the form of Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Atleti closed to within nine points of the league leaders with eight games left to play thanks to Sunday's 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Barca had looked set to lose their first top-flight match of the season 24 hours earlier, only for Lionel Messi to come off the bench and inspire his side to rally from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Sevilla.

And Simeone thinks his compatriot is the key difference between the top two teams.

"We're having a very important league campaign. We've already seen what happened at Sevilla," he told a news conference.

'Football needs Messi to lift the World Cup' - Barca star already great even if he fails in Russia, says Crespo

The mercurial forward continues to face suggestions that global success with Argentina is needed to be the greatest, but a fellow countryman disagrees

Football needs a Lionel Messi World Cup win more than the Barcelona and Argentina requires global glory, claims Hernan Crespo.
The mercurial forward is already assured of a standing among the all-time greats, but his claims to the title of ‘greatest ever’ continue to be questioned due to a lack of international success.
With the likes of Pele and Diego Maradona having inspired Brazil and Argentina to World Cup triumphs in the past, it has been suggested that Messi must do likewise in order to enjoy similar status

Messi still injured despite saving Barcelona against Sevilla, says Valverde

The star forward netted the decisive goal in the 89th minute even though he is still struggling with a muscle injury, but he will be fit to face Roma

Ernesto Valverde says Lionel Messi rescued Barcelona from defeat at Sevilla despite still struggling with a hamstring injury.
The Catalans' unbeaten run in La Liga this season looked to be coming to an end at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan until Luis Suarez and Messi scored in the 88th and 89th minutes to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Extraordinary Messi makes Barca less ordinary

The Argentine was kept in reserve for 57 minutes after injury, but managed to rescue a point for a battered Blaugrana still unbeaten in La Liga

With three minutes to play at the Sanchez Pizjuan, Barcelona were heading for their first defeat of the season in the Primera Division. And at that point, it was hard to say they did not deserve it.
Barca began the day with a 15-point lead in La Liga and unbeaten in the competition. However, Lionel Messi was not fit to start against Sevilla and in his absence, Ernesto Valverde's side were all over the place for almost an hour.

Messi included in Barcelona squad for Sevilla but Busquets misses out

The Argentine is in good enough shape to travel as part of the squad for Saturday's game, but the midfielder has been left out

Lionel Messi has been passed fit to be included in Barcelona's squad for their game at Sevilla on Saturday.
Messi - who missed both friendlies for Argentina during the international break - was a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Coach Ernesto Valverde told reporters the club would wait before making a decision over whether the 30-year-old would take part in their La Liga clash.

Messi trains but remains doubt for Sevilla match

Ernesto Valverde suggested the superstar, who did not train in full Thursday, could be a doubt for Saturday's La Liga game at Sevilla

Lionel Messi remains a doubt for Barcelona's La Liga trip to Sevilla on Saturday after he was unable to play a full part in Thursday's training session.
Messi missed both of Argentina's friendlies during the international break with a minor hamstring injury.

Golden Shoe 2017-18: Messi, Salah & Europe's top scorers

#1 Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 28 goals (56 pts)

New Liverpool signing Mohamed Salah is right there at the top of the Premier League scoring charts and the Egypt international is showing no signs of slowing down. Salah forms part of a formidable attacking trident at Anfield and is replicating the goalscoring exploits he indulged in during his time in Serie A with Roma.

#2 Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 25 goals (50 pts)

Lionel Messi scooped his fourth Golden Shoe accolade last season, bringing him level with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentina international has once again been to the fore for Barcelona this term, even if he has not been as prolific as he has been previously. Nevertheless, Messi is not far off the pace and is certainly one of the favourites to collect the award.