Opinion | Lionel Messi Record Breaker
Opinion | Lionel Messi Record Breaker
Another record breaking season for Barcelona's superstar?
Greatest player ever to walk the planet, winner of just about every trophy going, fan favourite and all together stand up guy. Which footballer are we talking about? Leo Messi of course. With the La Liga season kicking off in just three weeks, the apt question seems to be just what will Messi bring to the table next term in what looks to be the most vital season of his career?
Last season was another record breaking campaign for the Barca superstar. Messi picked up his fourth World Player of the Year award before smashing the record for most goals scored in a calender year. So how can Leo possibly top that and what else does he have left to achieve? To know that, lets first take a look at his mind-blowing records and achievements so far. 
Messi is the first player in history to win four FIFA Ballon d Or trophies - all of which he won consecutively - as well as the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards. At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona s all-time top scorer in all official club competitions and by 25 had become the youngest player to score 200 La Liga goals.
The dominant Argentine has already won six La Ligas, two Copas del Rey, five Supercopas de EspaÑa, three UEFA Champions Leagues, two Super Cups and two Club World Cups. In March 2012, Messi made Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. He also matched the record of 14 goals in a single Champions League season.
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Messi became the first player to top-score in four successive Champions League campaigns. He set the European record for most goals scored in a season during the 2011/12 season, with 73 goals. In the same season, he set the current goal-scoring record in a single La Liga season, scoring 50 goals. In March, Messi scored in his 19th consecutive La Liga game, becoming the first soccer player in history to net in consecutive matches against every team in the league. 
Most would consider breaking all the aforementioned records pretty impressive, especially given the fact that Messi recently became a father - perhaps an excuse to take his foot off the gas a little. But those around the player would tell you that Messi has no room for complacency. The Messi legacy still has room to grow and there are still a few meaningful records for the mesmerising forward to break.
Statistically Messi is already one of the greatest players to grace the Champions League - he is the only player to have scored in 20 different cities, he has the highest goal tally in a single Champions League campaign (14) and the highest goal tally in a single Champions League game (5). Alongside this he has the record of four consecutive Champions League Golden Boots.
To cement is position as the greatest ever Champions League's player, he will have to break Raul Gonzalez's record of 71 tournament goals. Messi's current tally sits at 58 goals from 76 games - not a bad return and just 13 goals away from ousting the legendary Spaniard from his throne.
Alongside this Messi dreams of becoming the all time top scorer in La Liga and he's not far off. Currently 7th in the standings, Messi would need to score another 37 goals to climb above Telmo Zarra who looks down at the rest with 251 goals. Considering the 46 goals last season and the 50 goals a couple of years back, only a fool would bet against Messi to achieve this. Should he do so, he'll also overtake Paul Alcantara's Barcelona club record of 369 goals (including friendlies) - a record that Messi is currently 32 goals shy of at 337. 
Records aside Messi has been hailed as a genuinely nice guy in football. One that is understated and who despite his god given talent is still just that same small kid who arrived at Barcelona all those years ago. One of the main factors camp-Cristiano would point to in the failure to beat Messi to a Ballon d Or is the likability factor and the seeming untouchable nature of the player. Yet has this now begun to fade recently? 
His well documented personal issues this year have tarnished his clean-cut image. Off the field, the holy aurora around Messi seems to have vanished. Once upon a time, typing Lionel Messi and Cheat into Google wouldn't have returned much. Now though you are spoilt for choice - Lionel Messi tax cheat and Lionel Messi cheats with stripper' have shot up the search rankings.
So after a slightly torrid summer, this season is probably the most crucial of Messi s career. Not only are Barcelona fighting to regain their European crown from Bayern Munich, but Brazilian sensation Neymar has arrived at the club. Showing he can not only play with the forward but also help him develop will be another string to the bow of Messi. Then of course comes the one failure in the career of the player thus far.
In the summer of 2014 the World Cup will be the chance Messi has been waiting for. His opportunity to show the world that he can do on the biggest stage of all, without Xavi and Andres Iniesta behind him. Should he be the top scorer at the tournament or lead Argentina to victory, then there will little argument left to the debate. He will be the greatest football player ever.
Do you think Messi will have another record breaking season? Let us know your thoughts.
