Lionel Messi now has Telmo Zarra's record in his sight

After scoring a brace against Granada in Saturday's 6-0 win, Lionel Messi is now closing in on Telmo Zarra's historic record: 251 goals in la Liga.

Considering the Barcelona forward's goal scoring feats in recent seasons, it always seemed like he would pass Zarra sooner rather than later.

It is one of the longest standing records in Spanish football, but Messi, with 248 goals, is now just four strikes away from announcing himself as the outright leader.

Three more will draw him level with the former Athletic Club and Spain striker.

The first opportunity for the Argentine will arrive on Saturday in Vallecas, when Barça take on Rayo Vallecano in the league. 

It will not be easy, because he needs a hat-trick to level and a poker -- a Spanish word for a four-goal haul -- to overtake, but Messi has shown he is capable of that.

He's scored four goals before in matches and has notched trebles on many occasions.

After passing 400 career goals in the victory over Granada, Barcelona's No. 10 can now focus on achieving another remarkable moment in his career.