LIONEL MESSI HAS scored his 300th goal in La Liga, becoming the first player in Spain’s top flight to reach such a number.
The Argentina star, making his 334th league appearance for Barcelona, drilled a fine low shot into the bottom corner to give Luis Enrique’s side the lead in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon.
Messi reached 299 goals with a superb free-kick in the 6-1 thrashing of Celta Vigo, but spurned the chance to reach his latest career milestone when he passed the ball to Luis Suarez from the penalty spot to allow the Uruguay striker to complete his hat-trick.
The 28-year-old, who made his debut in 2004, became La Liga’s all-time top scorer in November 2014 when he surpassed the record of 251 set by former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra.
He now has 488 goals in all competitions for club and country in his senior career after notching a second shortly after.
Sporting hit back almost immediately through Carlos Castro, but Messi restored Barca’s advantage before the break and Neymar twice came close to a third.
Another intriguing penalty decision looked as though it could cost the visitors in the second half, when Messi gave up duties to Luis Suarez only to see the Uruguayan fail to convert, but the former Liverpool man made amends with a fine finish to put Barca in control and subdue a vociferous El Molinon crowd.
The result puts Barca six points clear at the top of the table after 24 matches and extends their unbeaten run to 31 games ahead of Saturday’s trip to Las Palmas.
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