FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.11.2008 12:28

Messi on target in every competition

David Puig

After scoring against Benidorm, Leo Messi became the only Barça player to have hit the target in all three official competitions. This is turning out to be the Argentinian’s highest scoring season ever.

Leo Messi is enjoying his best season in front of goal since he joined the first team in 2004-04. Statistics may not always tell the full story, but in this case it is hard to argue that Messi isn’t having an absolutely amazing season. After scoring against Benidorm, Leo Messi became the only one of Guardiola’s squad to have scored in all three official competitions.

Best goalscoring record

So far this season, Leo Messi has played 14 official matches and has scored 11 goals, his best record to date. He has scored six times in nine league games, has four out of four in the Champions League and also hit the back of the net in his first Copa del Rey game of the season against Benidorm.

Better than 2007-08

That goal means he has one more in his account than he did at this stage of last season, although he had scored one more, making seven in his first nine League fixtures. However, Messi had scored one goal less, three, in the Champions league, and didn’t score in any of the three Copa del Rey matches he played in that season.

Only bettered by Xavi

But Messi is not just there to score goals He is also one of the team’s regular leaders in assists, and has an incredible total of 22 in the League and Champions League, putting him level with Iniesta and only Xavi, with 43, has a better record. If he carries on this way, Messi looks like being one of the highest ranked players in this category, confirming his place as one of the most decisive players in world football.