This week, talk of Lionel Messi returning to Barcelona has gained momentum. Picture Alliance image via Getty Images See more:
The 35-year-old forward had broken and established some impressive records by the time Messi departed Spain in 2021, including being Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer.
Messi holds the records for the most goals in La Liga (474), the most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and the UEFA Champions League (8), and the most assists in La Liga, according to Wikipedia (192). Here, Sports Brief examines five records Messi might break if he rejoins Barcelona with the assistance of Football Espana.
1. Most championships won by a single club
The player who has won the most titles with a single club, currently held by former Manchester United forward Ryan Giggs, will be surpassed by Lionel Messi. After winning 10 Leagues, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 7 Copa del Reys, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 Club World Cups, and 3 European Super Cups, Messi finished his time at Barcelona in the summer of 2021 with a record of 35 titles.
2. Most awards are won by a single person.
It should come as no surprise that Lionel Messi will increase his total of 42 trophies won—34 of which he won while sporting the Barcelona jersey and five while representing Argentina—by winning another Ligue 1 championship with PSG. Messi still trails former Brazil international Dani Alves, who has 45 titles to his credit, for the most titles won by a single player. If he returns to Camp Nou, Messi would have the chance to surpass his former teammate.
3. Barcelona’s most Champions League appearances
With 778 caps for the Catalan giants, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most appearances in an FC Barcelona jersey. The seven-time winner of the Ballon d’Or is, however, trailing Xavi in the Champions League, who has appeared in 151 more games than him for Barcelona. With 149 appearances for Barcelona in the Champions League, Messi is just three games away from shattering the mark.
4. Barcelona has won the most of European trophies.
If Barcelona win the new Champions League, Lionel Messi would become the player with the most European Cups, with five—one fewer than the total the team would have won throughout its history. The Argentine has won the Champions League four times, all with Barcelona, and he hopes to repeat as champion when he visits Camp Nou. Barcelona has gone eight seasons without winning the Champions League, but with Messi on the team, the Catalans can yet hope to repeat as champions of Europe’s most illustrious club competition.
5. Scored the most goals in Copa del Rey history.
Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals. He has also scored the most goals in the UEFA Champions League and La Liga combined. Josep Samitier, who scored 69 goals overall, 64 with Barcelona and five with Real Madrid, would take the top spot if the Copa del Rey were the only competition taken into account.
With 56 goals so far in the Copa del Rey, Messi needs to score nine more goals to tie Samitier’s record and become the competition’s leading scorer.
Messi should go back to Barcelona, says Henry.
Earlier, Sports Brief revealed that Lionel Messi, a forward for Paris Saint-Germain, has been asked to think about making a fantastical comeback to FC Barcelona. Messi’s former teammate, Thierry Henry, who was a member of Barcelona from 2007 to 2010, wants to visit his old haunts this summer. Messi’s current contract with PSG expires this summer, but talks between the player’s support group and the team have reached a snag.
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