• 768 - With his appearance against Real Sociedad on March 21, 2021, Lionel Messi became Barcelona's all-time appearance record-holder, overtaking Xavi. He scored twice in Barca's 6-1 win. AFP
    768 - With his appearance against Real Sociedad on March 21, 2021, Lionel Messi became Barcelona's all-time appearance record-holder, overtaking Xavi. He scored twice in Barca's 6-1 win. AFP
  • LIONEL MESSI'S BARCELONA RECORDS: 6 - Most Copa del Rey finals scored in: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. Reuters
    LIONEL MESSI'S BARCELONA RECORDS: 6 - Most Copa del Rey finals scored in: 2009, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. Reuters
  • 34 - Most trophies won as a Barcelona player. Reuters
    34 - Most trophies won as a Barcelona player. Reuters
  • 513 - Most matches won with Barcelona. EPA
    513 - Most matches won with Barcelona. EPA
  • 48 - Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions for Barcelona. EPA
    48 - Most hat-tricks scored in all competitions for Barcelona. EPA
  • 15 - First player to score in 15 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League. AFP
    15 - First player to score in 15 consecutive seasons of the UEFA Champions League. AFP
  • 7 - Most Pichichi Trophies (top scorer in La Liga): 2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2020. Reuters
    7 - Most Pichichi Trophies (top scorer in La Liga): 2010, 2012–2013, 2017–2020. Reuters
  • 37 - Most opponents scored against in La Liga history. AFP
    37 - Most opponents scored against in La Liga history. AFP
  • Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: (2018–20). EPA
    Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: (2018–20). EPA
  • 361 - Most La Liga victories. EPA
    361 - Most La Liga victories. EPA
  • 16 - Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League game. AFP
    16 - Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League game. AFP
  • 27 - Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 2012–13. EPA
    27 - Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 2012–13. EPA
  • 19 - Most teams scored against in a season: 2012–13. AFP
    19 - Most teams scored against in a season: 2012–13. AFP
  • 75 - Most appearances in the Copa del Rey for Barcelona. AFP
    75 - Most appearances in the Copa del Rey for Barcelona. AFP
  • 47 - Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions for Barcelona. Reuters
    47 - Most goals scored from a free kick in official competitions for Barcelona. Reuters
  • 38 - Most stadiums scored at in La Liga. Reuters
    38 - Most stadiums scored at in La Liga. Reuters
  • 485 - Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player. AFP
    485 - Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player. AFP
  • 150 - First player to reach 150 La Liga assists. AFP
    150 - First player to reach 150 La Liga assists. AFP
  • 4 - Most Man of the Match awards won in one FIFA World Cup: in 2014. AFP
    4 - Most Man of the Match awards won in one FIFA World Cup: in 2014. AFP
  • 6 - Only player to score in six different club competitions in a calendar year twice: 2011 and 2015. Reuters
    6 - Only player to score in six different club competitions in a calendar year twice: 2011 and 2015. Reuters
  • First player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league (2012-2013). EPA
    First player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league (2012-2013). EPA
  • 4 - Only player to provide at least one assist in four World Cup tournaments. AFP
    4 - Only player to provide at least one assist in four World Cup tournaments. AFP
  • 13 - Most appearances in the FIFPro World11: (2007–2019). EPA
    13 - Most appearances in the FIFPro World11: (2007–2019). EPA
  • 11 - Most appearances on a video game cover by a football player. AFP
    11 - Most appearances on a video game cover by a football player. AFP
  • 334 - Fastest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP
    334 - Fastest player ever to reach 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP
  • 10 - Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches. AP Photo
    10 - Most Man of the Match awards won in Copa América matches. AP Photo
  • 115 - Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League. AFP
    115 - Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League. AFP
  • 435 - Fastest player ever to reach 400 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP
    435 - Fastest player ever to reach 400 goals in Europe's top five leagues. AFP
  • 5 - Most goals scored in a European Cup/Champions League game, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. AFP
    5 - Most goals scored in a European Cup/Champions League game, against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. AFP
  • 110 - Most dribbles completed at the World Cup finals. AFP
    110 - Most dribbles completed at the World Cup finals. AFP
  • 123 - Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals. AFP
    123 - Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals. AFP
  • 68 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage. AFP
    68 - Most goals scored in the UEFA Champions League group stage. AFP
  • 5 - Only player to provide at least one assist in five Copa América tournaments. AFP
    5 - Only player to provide at least one assist in five Copa América tournaments. AFP
  • 3 - Most UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season awards: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19. AFP
    3 - Most UEFA/UEFA.com Goal of the Season awards: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19. AFP
  • 6 - Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 2009–2013; 2015. AFP
    6 - Most Best Player in La Liga awards: 2009–2013; 2015. AFP
  • 12 - Top assist provider in Copa America history. AP Photo
    12 - Top assist provider in Copa America history. AP Photo
  • 21 - Most goals in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. AFP
    21 - Most goals in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. AFP
  • 6 - Most Ballons d'Or: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP
    6 - Most Ballons d'Or: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP
  • Messi is the only player ever to score in his teens, his 20s, and his 30s at the World Cup. He first scored at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a 19-year-old in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro, then five times in 2014, and once in 2018. AFP
    Messi is the only player ever to score in his teens, his 20s, and his 30s at the World Cup. He first scored at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a 19-year-old in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro, then five times in 2014, and once in 2018. AFP
  • 6 - Most FIFA World Player of the Year/Best FIFA Men's Player Awards: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP
    6 - Most FIFA World Player of the Year/Best FIFA Men's Player Awards: 2009–2012; 2015; 2019. AFP
  • 444 - Most goals in La Liga. AFP
    444 - Most goals in La Liga. AFP
  • 50 - goals in a La Liga and European league season. Reuters
    50 - goals in a La Liga and European league season. Reuters
  • 8 - Most Champions League hat-tricks. AFP
    8 - Most Champions League hat-tricks. AFP
  • 183 - Most assists in La Liga. AFP
    183 - Most assists in La Liga. AFP
  • 7 - La Liga Best Forward titles ( 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16). AFP
    7 - La Liga Best Forward titles ( 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16). AFP
  • 36 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga. AFP
    36 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga. AFP
  • 300 - Most recorded assists in football history. AFP
    300 - Most recorded assists in football history. AFP
  • 91 - goals in a calendar year (2012) - 79 with Barca (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup) plus 12 with the Argentina national side.
    91 - goals in a calendar year (2012) - 79 with Barca (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup) plus 12 with the Argentina national side.
  • 6 - European Golden Shoes for top scorer in European football. AFP
    6 - European Golden Shoes for top scorer in European football. AFP
  • 60 - Only player to score 60+ goals in all competitions in 2 consecutive seasons: (2011–12 and 2012–13). AFP
    60 - Only player to score 60+ goals in all competitions in 2 consecutive seasons: (2011–12 and 2012–13). AFP
  • 10 - Only player to score more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons. AFP
    10 - Only player to score more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons. AFP
  • 79 - Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year (2012). AFP
    79 - Top goalscorer in all club competitions in a calendar year (2012). AFP
  • 21 - Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league: 33 goals in 2012–13. Reuters
    21 - Longest goalscoring run in a domestic league: 33 goals in 2012–13. Reuters
  • 7 - Only player to score in seven official competitions in one calendar year: 2015, in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Reuters
    7 - Only player to score in seven official competitions in one calendar year: 2015, in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Reuters
  • 70 - Argentina all-time top scorer. EPA
    70 - Argentina all-time top scorer. EPA
  • 27 - Top goalscorer in El Clásico. EPA
    27 - Top goalscorer in El Clásico. EPA

Lionel Messi wants to leave Barcelona: 55 club, European, national and world records


Steve Luckings
  • English
  • Arabic

Barcelona's record scorer and talisman Lionel Messi dropped a bombshell on Tuesday by informing the club - by fax - of his intention to leave the club after nearly 20 years.

The Argentine believes he is entitled to a free transfer, something the club are sure to dispute and tell any interested clubs they must meet his €700 million (Dh3.039 billion) buyout clause.

It is entirely understandable Barca are loathe to lose six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, given his achievements for both club and country.

Above is a picture gallery of 55 records the 33-year-old holds. Simply swipe or click on the arrows to move to the next image.

The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)

MATCH INFO

World Cup qualifier

Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')

UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')

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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.