Barcelona Star Lionel Messi Reaches Landmark Goal Tally

Messi (back) celebrates his landmark goal with a lift from Dani Alves

Lionel Messi became the first player to score 50 goals in a Spanish season as Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0 ver the weekend.

Messi’s strike three minutes from time and David Villa’s 24th-minute opener ensured Barca maintained their eight-point La Liga lead over Real Madrid.

A Gonzalo Higuain hat-trick helped Real to a 6-3 rout at Valencia.

The top-two rivals will meet on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu.

Barca’s hopes of a Treble were ended when Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time goal earned Real a 1-0 victory over the Catalans in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final.

But Pep Guardiola’s side put that disappointment behind them to move a step closer to their third consecutive league title with five games left to play.

Villa’s 18th goal of the season sent Barca on their way to the three points – the Spain international stabbing home a Jeffren Suarez left-wing cross to the far post.

Guardiola had rested many of their first-team regulars, including Messi who was named on the bench.

But he replaced Villa in the 58th minute and he rolled in his team’s second of the night to reach his landmark tally and kill off Barca’s relegation-threatened opponents’ challenge.

Messi had equalled the previous best mark of 49 goals scored by Real Madrid’s Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas when he netted in the league 1-1 draw against Real last weekend.

The Argentine superstar has netted 31 in La Liga, nine in the Champions League, seven in the Copa del Rey and three in the Spanish Super Cup.

Source: BBC