FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.05.2008 12:16

Messi’s 75 appearances

Jesús Carrillo

If Frank Rijkaard picks him, Messi will play his 75th league match for Barça this weekend. The Argentinian has scored no fewer than 30 goals in the domestic championship for FC Barcelona.

One October 16 at the Olympic Stadium, a little known Argentinian Leo Messi walked onto the pitch to play his first ever game for the Barça first team. The young player with the long hair, and the number 30 on his back, replaced Deco, who just minutes before had scored the winner against home side Espanyol.

First goal at Camp Nou

In 2004/05, Messi scored his first league goal against Albacete. His spectacular chip was the second of the night for a team that was rocketing towards the league title. Having won his first league winners medal, the following season Messi really exploded onto the global football scene. Alongside Eto'o and Ronaldinho he formed part of the lethal trident, and the goals started coming with ease. In his second season as a first team player he scored seven goals in 17 games, before being struck by injury in a Champions League clash with Chelsea.

14 goals last season

Last season, Leo Messi was in even better league form, with 14 goals in 26 games. But yet another campaign was blighted by injury. Against Zaragoza, a fractured metacarpian in his left foot meant he missed three months of activity.

This season Messi has appeared in 24 league games to date, and is well on course to breaking his personal record for one season. Since his debut, the now Argentinian international has played 74 games and scored 30 times.