Messi: Barcelona and LaLiga Santander's most precious treasure that nobody can afford to lose

He is a record-breaking machine

Posted Thursday, March 25, 2021 by Marca.com

Leo Messi

Lionel Messi just keeps on breaking records, and none can evade his grasp.

The No.10 has made every Barcelona and LaLiga Santander record his own, and he flies the flag for his club and the league in which he plays. Nobody wants him to leave this summer, not at the Camp Nou, nor at LaLiga.

Against Real Sociedad, Messi finally overtook Xavi Hernandez's appearance record with his 768th for the club. On top of that, he has won more titles for Barcelona than anyone on 34. As if that wasn't enough, he is by far the most outstanding footballer to ever set foot in LaLiga Santander, and it's not even close.

Messi has more goals - 466 - than anyone in Spain's top tier, he has more wins - 379 - than anyone else, and the most braces - 131 - than anybody. No one has more than his 36 hat-tricks, nobody has scored against more than his 38 opponents, and not a single soul has more than his 50 goals in a season, with that milestone coming in 2011/12. His 206 assists are better by, unsurprisingly, nobody.

He has scored in 295 matches - again more than anyone else - and by scoring in 19 consecutive games, he has chained together more goalscoring appearances in a row than anybody.

LaportaFC BARCELONAMARCA

Pichichi

Now at 33, Messi is still in top form. He put on another show as Barcelona thumped Real Sociedad, and he's leading the race to be crowned Pichichi this season with 23 goals, with his former teammate and close friend Luis Suarez trailing behind.

Messi has ended a LaLiga Santander season as the top scorer on seven previous occasions, including each of the last four. Nobody has won more Pichichis.

Joan Laporta is clear on what Leo Messi means to Barcelona as a footballer, but he's just as aware of his importance on an emotional and branding level as well. Nobody wants to see him walk away from Catalonia this summer.

The new president wants to offer him a lucrative new deal, but he knows that the club can't compete with the clubs who will be hoping to lure Messi away from the Camp Nou.