Lionel Messi becomes all-time Champions League top-scorer
Argentine wizard sets yet another record just days after breaking La Liga equivalent
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi set a Champions League scoring record of 74 goals when he netted a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 4-0 Group F win at APOEL Nicosia.
The Barca and Argentina captain surpassed the record of 71 he jointly held with former Real Madrid and Schalke 04 striker Raul when he put his side 2-0 ahead shortly before halftime.
The 27-year-old added two more goals in the second half to complete his 31st career treble, his fifth in Europe’s elite club competition and the first in which he has scored all three with his less-favoured right foot.
“I am pleased to have achieved such a nice record in such a nice and important competition but the really important thing is the three points,” Messi said in a television interview.
Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time, football is the king of sports and he will continue to surprise everyone for a long time
His achievement is the latest milestone in a stellar career and comes three days after he broke the six decades-old La Liga scoring record with a hat-trick in Barca’s 5-1 home win over Sevilla.