Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona routed Real Sociedad 6-1in La Liga to add extra gloss to a night that saw him become the club's all-time appearance holder.
Antione Griezmann netted against the club where he began his career before Sergino Dest scored his first of the night before half time after latching on to a sweeping pass from Messi.
The defender struck again early in the second half before Messi controlled a sumptuous pass from Sergio Busquets and scored to mark a night on which he overtook Xavi as Barca's record appearance maker, with 768 games for the Catalans.
A fifth goal came courtesy of Ousmane Dembele on 71 minutes after a brilliant solo run and Sociedad's Ander Barrenetxea hit arguably the best goal of the game in what was the host's only bright spot of the evening.
Messi, however, had the final say, finishing off a flowing team move in the 89th minute to score his 23rd league goal of the season, increasing his lead at the top of the scoring charts.
The victory took Barca above Real Madrid into second place in the standings on 62 points, four behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who beat Alaves 1-0 at home, with 10 games remaining.
"This is a difficult place to come, Barca always used to struggle here but we came flying out of the blocks," said Griezmann.
"We worked very hard, we won the ball lots of times deep in their half and reacted well every time we lost it. It was a great Barcelona performance."
Barca coach Ronald Koeman emphasised the importance of easing the scoring burden on Messi.
"It's always important for players other than Leo to score goals. That way it's much harder to defend against us," Koeman told reporters.
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Lionel Messi record
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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 -
34 - Most trophies won as a Barcelona player. Reuters -
513 - Most matches won with 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 -
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 -
Only player to be top goalscorer and top assist provider in the same season: (2018–20). EPA -
361 - Most La Liga victories. EPA -
16 - Most dribbles completed in a UEFA Champions League game. AFP -
27 - Most league matches scored in a season (38 games): 2012–13. EPA -
19 - Most teams scored against in a season: 2012–13. 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 -
38 - Most stadiums scored at in La Liga. Reuters -
485 - Most La Liga appearances by a foreign player. 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
110 - Most dribbles completed at the World Cup finals. AFP -
123 - Fastest player to reach 100 UEFA Champions League goals. 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 -
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 -
12 - Top assist provider in Copa America history. AP Photo -
21 - Most goals in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers. 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 -
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 -
50 - goals in a La Liga and European league season. Reuters -
8 - Most Champions League hat-tricks. 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 -
36 - Most hat-tricks in La Liga. 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. -
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 -
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 -
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 -
70 - Argentina all-time top scorer. EPA -
27 - Top goalscorer in El Clásico. EPA
