Another hat-trick from Lionel Messi on Tuesday night saw him break Barcelona’s 60 year old goal-scoring record set by Cesar Rodriguez.
The record had recently been revised downwards from 235 to 232 after the Barcelona Centre of Documentation and Studies and La Vanguardia newspaper conducted joint research to verify the scoring record of previous record-holder Cesar Rodriguez. The study showed he had scored three goals fewer than was previously thought.
Messi, the 24-year-old World Player of the Year, who is in his eighth season with Barca, has now scored 54 goals in all competitions this season and is also now the top-scorer in La Liga this season with 34 goals from 27 games, two ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Athletico Madrid’s Falcao is third with 17 goals.
The absolute top scorer for Barcelona is actually Paulino Alcantara, who played for Barcelona between 1912 and 1927 and scored 369 goals in 357 games. However, he played before the formation of La Liga and only 137 of his goals were scored in official matches.
Back to the match and Barcelona beat Granada 5-3. Xavi opened the scoring in the fourth minute and then Messi made it 2-0, Barcelona looking to be cruising through the game.
But Granada were having none of it and just after the break, Diego Mainz nodded the ball home and then Siqueira made it 2-2 from the penalty spot.
Lionel Messi restored Barcelona’s lead with twenty minutes to go and Tello made it 4-2 and Messi completed his hat-trick four minutes later.
Siqueira scored a second from the penalty spot to make the final score 5-3. It is the first time Barcelona have conceded three goals all season.