Messi at the age of 35, also became the oldest player to register two goals and two assists in a single Champions League game
By Kehinde Okeowo
Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and Paris Saint-Germain forward, Lionel Messi, on Wednesday, October 25, broke Brazil legend, Pele’s record in football.
Pele had been involved in 1,126 goals during his glittering career. However, Messi has now surpassed that figure after taking his goal involvement, being his goal and assists to 1,127.
The Argentine striker achieved the feat after scoring a brace in PSG’s Champions League 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa in Paris.
ALSO READ: Jamie Carragher urges Pulisic to quit Stamford Bridge
His teammates, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar were also on the scoresheet as PSG thrashed the Israeli club, who had upset Italian giant, Juventus in an earlier encounter.
In addition to the feat, Messi at the age of 35, Messi has also become the oldest player to register two goals and two assists in a single Champions League game.
The broken records are simply an indicator of Messi’s excellent start to the campaign which has seen him rack up 11 goals and 12 assists in 16 competitive appearances.
His performances have been critical in helping PSG remain at the top of Ligue 1 and one would expect him to play an even more important role as the French giants look to conquer the Champions League for the first time.
Meanwhile, Pele’s former club, Santos, have contracted the claim and published a detailed account explaining why in their view, former Barcelona forward Messi has not broken the record at all.
According to them, Pele’s goals in friendlies count towards his Santos total goals and, as a result, the record of his goals stands at 1,091 – meaning Lionel Messi has another 448 to go.
