Lionel Messi Matches John Pele’s Record with Barcelona
Argentine and Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi has equalled Brazilain legend John Pele’s record as he scored his 643 goals for a single club. Lionel Messi scored the goal in their La Liga Matchday 13 game which ended 2-2with Valencia at the Nou Camp.
Messi netted a milestone goal with a diving header just before half-time – moments after missing a penalty – to cancel out Mouctar Diakhaby’s 29th-minute opener.
The former La Liga champions Barcelona then took the lead for the first time of the night through Ronald Araujo’s goal but Maxi Gomez equalled the scores again to share the point.
Lionel Messi went close with several late efforts but Ronald Koeman’s side failed to find a winner and his star player had to settle for matching rather than surpassing Pele’s Santos mark for now.
Barcelona are now fifth in the top-flight table but could yet be overhauled by sixth-placed Sevilla who have two games in hand on the Catalan giants. Diakhaby capitalised on awful Barcelona defending to head in a corner that put Valencia into an early lead.
The hosts could not force their way back into the contest during a frustrating first half, only to be handed a golden chance to level with a penalty.
But then up popped Gomez to seal the draw, heaping yet more misery on Barcelona and Koeman.
