Lionel Messi record: Barça star breaks Telmo Zarra goals total
Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the history of Spain's Primera Division. He scored three times as Barcelona beat Sevilla 5-1 on Saturday night, overtaking Telmo Zarra as the top goal scorer in la Liga in the process.
Former Athletic Club striker Zarra scored 251 goals before he left the Basque club in 1955 and Messi has had him in his sights for a few weeks now.
His first goal against Sevilla - a fantastic free-kick which he himself had won - drew him level at the top, but it was the second goal of his hat-trick which took him clear as the outright leader. Neymar squared the ball and the Argentine slid in to take the title.
Camp Nou chanted his name, his teammates hoisted him in the air and the stadium announcer delivered the news that Messi everyone present was witnessing history. Messi, with 252 goals, was not the man with the most goals to his name since the Spain's top flight took shape.
By the end of the night he was two clear of Zarra. And his third goal, if the least relevant in some ways, was actually his best. Collecting the ball on the edge of the area, his caressed finish beyond Beto was made to look far easier than it actually was.
At full-time, it was almost forgotten that Barca had just thumped Sevilla, instead all eyes were on Messi.
Once again, his colleagues chucked him in the air, before gathering on the Camp Nou turf to watch a video in tribute to the record-breaker - with Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Andoni Zubizarreta featuring among those to have pre-recorded congratulatory messages for Messi.
