Why is Messi two goals shy of his 700th goal and not three?

There's no one like Leo Messi. His numbers speak for themselves. No record can resist the Barça striker.

This year, he could still make history. Because Leo Messi is only two goals away from q whopping 700 official goals.

Thanks to ProFootballDB we know that Messi has scored 698 goals. 628 of them have been scored with Barça. The other 70, with Argentina.

Although Messi could well be three goals away from two... Because of those 698 that are attributed to him, there is one that remains very controversial.

On March 24, 2012, Barça faced Mallorca in Son Moix. The match ended with a 0-2 score in favour of the Catalans. One of them was the work of Messi... or so it was recorded in the minutes.

In the images, it was not so clear that Messi was the author of that goal. It was the Argentinian who shot from the left corner of the area. But Alexis Sanchez stuck his neck out, stroked the ball and it went into the back of the net. A subtle but decisive touch.

The referee's report attributed the goal to Leo Messi. Even Alexis Sanchez admitted to sending the ball into the net. "I touched it, but the goal is yours, Leo," said the Chilean in a video captured by the cameras of 'Canal +'.

And the goal, despite all controversy, was for Leo Messi. That year, moreover, the Rosario native broke another record. He scored a total of 91 goals in a calendar year. Yet another stunning number. 

Whether Messi scored a goal or not, the record attributed that goal to him before Mallorca and he added the goal to his personal account. That's why he has scored 698 goals and not 697.

Two goals separate Messi from 700. A figure that could reach against Leganes this Tuesday if he scores a double. And, considering his form after the three month break, there is no doubt that he is in a position to do so, although Leganés will avoid it at all costs.