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Brace Takes Messi Up All-Time La Liga Goal Record Ladder

 

Lionel Messi moved into joint third place in the all-time Primera Division scoring charts with a brace as Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League showdown against Manchester City with a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of Rayo Vallecano.

Messi struck in the 36th and 68th minutes of a completely one-sided match at the Nou Camp to move above Alfredo Di Stefano (227) in the record books and level with another Real Madrid legend, Raul, on 228 La Liga goals.

At just 26 years old it now seems only a matter of time before the prolific Messi claims the outright record, which is the 251 goals scored by former Athletic Bilbao star Telmo Zarra.

Hugo Sanchez is second on the list and next in Messi’s sights with 234 goals for Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Rayo.

Rayo must be wishing they could still call on the Mexico ace as they battle to avoid relegation from the top flight this season, but even he would have been powerless to prevent the Madrid outfit from being swept aside by brilliant Barca.

Adriano opened the floodgates in just the second minute and Alexis Sanchez (53), Pedro Rodriguez (56) and a fantastic Neymar goal (89) added to Messi’s double as Barca reclaimed top spot in La Liga from Atletico Madrid, who won earlier on Saturday.

The performance also fired out an ominous warning to European opponents City, who play host to Gerardo Martino’s men on Tuesday night in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Barca came into the match in buoyant mood after reaching the Copa del Rey final in midweek and they never looked like slipping up against second-bottom Rayo after Adriano had drilled in that early opener from the edge of the box.