Barcelona News: Leo Messi Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo’s La Liga record against Alaves

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been breaking records by the handful in the last few years and this year has been no different. Messi has been outstanding this season and the turn of the year hasn’t seen any dip in form for the Argentine genius.

The Barcelona star was again phenomenal in their game against Alaves as a beautiful free-kick placed into the top corner gave the La Liga leader a 2-1 victory. The win maintains a 19-point gap over Real (who are fourth) in the table and takes Messi’s tally for the season to 20 as far as goals for the season.

Messi truly is the GOAT pic.twitter.com/TFzqHpPq4a

— GolTorGoal (@GoalTorGol) January 28, 2018

The winner in the game proved significant – not only because it gifted Ernesto Valverde’s side all three point but also because it helped Messi break a La Liga record that was previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.

As per OptaJose, the Argentine scored his 21^st goal from a direct free-kick – which means he has scored more direct free-kicks (21) than any other player in the Spanish top flight since the 2003/04 season.

21 – Lionel Messi has scored 21 direct free-kick goals in La Liga, more than any other player since at least 2003/04 (Cristiano Ronaldo, 20). Magic. pic.twitter.com/5INzUggstM

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 28, 2018

This stat, thus gives even more weightage as to why Messi is considered by many as the greatest exponent of the art of a direct free-kick.

Messi scored 20 league goals for 10^th consecutive season

In the process, Barcelona’s no. 10 also ensured that it was another season in which he has scored 20 league goals – his 10^th in a row.

A Kick

A Victory

3 Points

GOAT Messi pic.twitter.com/wmkJf6rvTJ

— BarcelonaBoy (@iBarcelonaBoy) January 29, 2018

Messi has never scored less than 23 goals in a season (which he managed in 2008/09) whilst his highest tally came in 2011-12 when he scored an astonishing 50 goals.