Messi reaches 700 goals... and counting

The 700 Club's latest member.

Lionel Messi made history in FC Barcelona's 2-2 draw against Atletico de Madrid, scoring his 700th goal of his career.

It was his 630th goal in 724 games for FC Barcelona, with his first coming against Albacete back in May 1, 2005. 441 of those goals came in 480 games in league play. 114 came in 141 appearances in the UEFA Champions League. 53 came in 75 games in the Copa del Rey. Fourteen came in nineteen games under the Spanish Super Cup, while tacking on five in his five appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup. Lastly, he scored thrice in four European Super Cup finals.

The remaining 70 comes from his 138 caps for Argentina's in international duties. He first scored for the Albiceleste back in March 2006 against Croatia in a friendly. Messi last scored internationally back in November 2019 against Uruguay, also in a friendly.

In compiling seven hundred goals, he also managed to secure 54 hat tricks, and once scored five goals in a single game, against Bayer Leverkusen back in 2011-12. He also lashed a total of 91 goals during 2012, a personal record.

Arguably the best football player of his generation with his ten championships in LaLiga, four Champions League trophies, and six Ballon d'Ors, he already was the all-time leading goalscorer in the Spanish top-flight, surpassing Athletic Club legend Telmo Zarra back in October 2014 with his 252nd goal.

His rival for that designation, Portuguese international and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo, is the only other member of that exclusive "700 goals" club that is still active. Ronaldo had scored 728 goals in senior football at the time Messi scored his 700th, which includes 99 goals in 164 appearances for Portugal. In addition, 311 of CR7's goals came during his 292 games for Real Madrid in league play.

The other members of the "700 club" are:

Czech-Austrian forward Josef Bican, who scored 805 goals between 1930s-50s.

Brazilian forward Romario, who reportedly scored 772 goals.

Brazilian icon Pelé, who scored 767 goals.

Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás, who retired with 746 goals in 1966.

German icon Gerd "Der Bomber" Müller, who finished with 735 goals when he retired in 1981.

Having just turned 33 last month, Messi still has enough time to even carve more history and raise his storied accolades even higher.