The 5 stats that show Messi's genius

1. He could overtake Pele in terms of goals with one club

Pele scored 643 goals for Santos between 1957 and 1974. Messi, with three on Sunday, has racked up 591 with Barcelona - 412 in La Liga, 108 in the Champions League, 50 in the Copa del Rey, three in the Spanish Super Cup, five in the Club World Cup and 13 in Spanish Super Cup matches. 

2. Equal telmo Zarra's six La Liga Golden Boots

Messi has scored 29 goals this season, an astonishing 11 more than his nearest rival Luis Suarez. The Argentine has been the La Liga top scorer in 200-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2017-18; a total of five wins. He is now only one off Zarra, who won the Golden Boot six times in the 1940s and 50s.

3. Consolidate his European Golden Shoe dominance

Up until now, Leo Messi is the only player that has five European Golden Shoe awards (given for scoring the most goals out of the top European leagues). With his 29 strikes this season he is three ahead of second-placed Kylian Mbappe, who has scored 26 times. 

4. One victory away from equalling Iker Casillas as the player with the most wins in domestic competition

With Barcelona, Messi has won 333 matches of the 444 he has plaed, and is just one away from equalling Iker Casillas' record of 334 wins.

5. Messi: the man with 51 hat-tricks

The Barcelona man has managed 45 hat-tricks with his club and six with his country, Barcelona. Messi has recently overtaken Ronaldo's hat-trick record, with the Portuguese having scored 44 with Real Madrid.