Argentine maestro Lionel Messi is celebrating his 35th birthday today. Records often chase Messi wherever he goes. The legend has broken hundreds of records in his illustrious career.
The PSG star is arguably the greatest footballer of all time and millions of his fans can’t stop rejoicing over their idol’s birthday. They pour in their best of wishes for the Argentine magician and the former Barcelona superstar.
Messi will try to get back to his best with PSG from next season as he’s had a pretty ordinary season this year.
Here are some staggering records from the superstar…
35. Most dribbles at World Cup finals
Messi has completed 110 rounds in all World Cups he has competed in.
34. Most European Golden Boot awards
Messi has won six European Golden Boots in his career in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2019. He won all six with Barcelona.
33. Most official goals scored for a single club in Europe
Messi has broken Pele’s record for scoring the most official goals for a single club. He has scored 672 goals for Barcelona.
32. Most goals scored for a single club in the UEFA Champions League
Messi has scored 120 goals for Barcelona in the Champions League.
31. Fastest player to score 100 goals in the UEFA Champions League
Messi needed the fewest games to score a hundred Champions League goals. He scored 100 goals in just 123 games.
30. Most goals in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League
With 68 goals, Messi has scored the most goals in the group stage of the Champions League.
29. Most goals in the UEFA Champions League round of 16
Messi has the most Champions League round of 16 goals with 26 goals.
28. Goals against most individual teams in UEFA Champions League
Messi has scored against 34 teams, which are the most individual sides anyone has ever scored against in the Champions League.
27. Most goals in the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League
Most goals scored by a single player in a single round of 16 is six and Messi holds that record in his name.
26. Most hat-tricks in the Champions League
Messi has scored eight hat-tricks in the Champions League and he shares this record with great Cristiano Ronaldo.
25 Most Argentina internationals
Messi is the most capped Argentinian player with 160 caps.
24 Most club awards
Messi has won the most club awards with a single club with 36 trophies for Barcelona.
23. Most hat-tricks in La Liga
Messi has the most hat-tricks in La Liga. He has scored 36 of them.
22. Most El Clasico goals
Messi is really is the king of El Clasicos. He has scored 26 goals against Real Madrid.
21. Most goals in La Liga
Messi has 474 La Liga goals to his credit.
20. Most goals in a LaLiga season
In the 2011-12 LaLiga season, Messi had scored 50 goals and the feat has never been equaled by anyone.
19. Most awards for UEFA Goal of the Season
Messi has the most number of awards (3) for UEFA Goal of the Season.
18. First player to score in 15 consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons
Messi has scored in 15 consecutive Champions League seasons and is the first player to do so.
17. Youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League
Messi is the youngest player to reach 100 UCL appearances in 2015 at the age of 28 years and 84 days.
16. Most dribbles in a UEFA Champions League match
Messi has completed the most dribbles in a Champions League game with 16 against Manchester United. He shares this record with Neymar.
15. Most Man of the Match awards in Copa America games
Messi has won 10 Man of the Match awards in Copa America competition.
14 Most Pichichi trophies
The Pichichi trophy is awarded to the top LaLiga goalscorer of a season and Messi has six trophies.
13. Most La Liga titles won by a non-Spanish player
Messi has won the La Liga title 10 times.
12. Argentina’s all-time top scorer
Messi is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 86 goals and still counting
11. Most consecutive Ballon d’Or
Messi won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award four years in a row from 2009 to 2012.
10. Top goal scorer in all club competitions in a calendar year
In 2012, Messi scored 79 goals in all club competitions. This is the highest of all players.
9. The only player to score five goals in a club and international match
Messi has twice scored five times in one game, once for Barcelona in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 and for Argentina in 2022 against Estonia.
8. The only player to have scored more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons
Messi is the only player to have scored more than 40 goals in 10 consecutive seasons.
7. The only player to score in seven different official competitions in a calendar year
Messi scored in seven competitions in 2015 – La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Copa America, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. He completed this feat on December 20, 2015.
6. First player ever to score consecutively against all teams in a professional league
Messi is the first player to score against all the teams he has played against in La Liga.
5. Most (official) assists in football history
Messi has the most official assists with 331 and still counting in football history.
4. Most man of the match awards at a FIFA World Cup
Messi was man of the match four times at 2014 FIFA World Cup.
3. Only player to score in his teens, 20’s and 30’s in World Cup history
As a teenager in his 20s and 30s, he scored for Argentina at a World Cup. Messi is the only player to achieve the feat.
2. Most Ballon d’Or awards
Messi has the most Ballon d’Or awards in football history. He has received this prestigious award seven times in his illustrious career.
1. Guinness World Record for top scorer for club and country in a calendar year
Messi broke the record held by German legend Gerd Muller after scoring 91 goals in a calendar year in 2012.