Lionel Messi overtakes Raul as top scorer in Champions League
Lionel Messi overtook Raul as the top scorer in the history of the Champions League with his goal against APOEL Nicosia on Tuesday night.
He had been tied with the former Real Madrid striker on 71 going into the match, but his first half strike carried him onto 72 and made him the stand alone leader.
Two more goals in the second half completed his hat-trick and took him onto 74 Champions League goals - Barça won the match 0-4.
It comes just three days after he overtook Telmo Zarra (251) as the top scorer in the history of la Liga.
Messi, who is still just 27, has scored his 74 Champions League goals in 91 appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo, whose Real Madrid side play Basel in Switzerland on Wednesday, is just behind the Argentine - the 29-year-old has managed 70 goals in Europe's top competition.
Luis Suarez opened the scoring in Cyprus, scoring his first goal for Barça courtesy of a good finish after a tidy turn.
