#Messi500 breakdown: How Clasico winner took Messi to new heights

Lionel Messi was at his record-breaking, breathtaking best on Sunday as a stunning late strike helped Barcelona to Clasico glory over Real Madrid and moved him to 500 goals for the Catalan giants.

A devastating finish, so typical of the Argentine master, put Barca top of LaLiga as they try to overhaul Madrid in a domestic season of capital dominance.

But the strike served to once again highlight Messi’s status as one of the all-time greats as Barca’s record goalscorer became the first LaLiga player to net 500 goals for a single club.

Using Opta data, we break down the stunning statistics behind Messi’s latest mind-blowing milestone.

500 – Lionel Messi has scored his 500th goal for Barcelona in all competitions. Stellar. pic.twitter.com/Jx3kUl1CQ9

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 23, 2017

HOW HE SCORED THEM

Left foot: 402
Right foot: 74
Head: 22
Other: 2

WHERE HE SCORED THEM – Top 5

Camp Nou: 284
Santiago Bernabeu: 14
Vicente Calderon: 13
Riazor: 10
Mestalla: 9

WHO SET THEM UP – Top 5

Dani Alves: 42
Andres Iniesta: 34
Xavi: 31
Pedro: 25
Luis Suarez: 25

 

Grande todo el equipo ESPECTACULAR el esfuerzo de todos con el mejor de la HISTORIA felicitaciones amigo !!!!!! @leomessi The team was great! Everybody’s effort was SPECTACULAR  With the best player in HISTORY Congratulations my friend !!!!! @leomessi

A post shared by Luis Suarez (@luissuarez9) on Apr 23, 2017 at 2:52pm PDT

WHO CONCEDED THEM – Top 5

Diego Alves: 21
Gorka Irazioz: 18
Iker Casillas: 17
Andres Fernandez: 15
Andres Palop: 12

IF MESSI SCORES, BARCA…

Win: 275 (86.70 per cent)
Draw: 30 (9.50)
Lose: 12 (3.80)

THE MILESTONE MOMENTS

14. Mar 3 2007 – Barcelona v Real Madrid: Messi’s first in El Clasico. He goes on to score a hat-trick, including a 90th-minute equaliser.

19. Apr 18 2007 – Barcelona v Getafe: Comparisons to Diego Maradona are cemented as Messi dribbles though an entire Getafe defence to score a goal eerily similar to his legendary compatriot’s solo stunner against England in the 1986 World Cup.

80. May 28 2011 – Manchester United v Barcelona: Messi scores the second goal in a 3-1 demolition of the Premier League giants in the Champions League final.

228. Mar 7 2012 – Barcelona v Bayer Leverkusen: Messi becomes the first player to score five goals in a single Champions League game.

252. May 5 2012 – Barcelona v Espanyol: Racking up four goals in this city derby makes Messi the first player to hit 50 in a LaLiga season.

313. May 5 2013 – Barcelona v Real Betis: The last goal in a 4-2 win sees Messi score for the 21st game in succession – a LaLiga record.

347. Mar 23 2014 – Real Madrid v Barcelona: Another Clasico hat-trick takes Messi beyond Alfred Di Stefano as the fixture’s record goalscorer.

#Messi ya suma 14 goles en el Santiago Bernabéu… #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/3gGMzvwJaJ

— LaLiga (@LaLiga) April 24, 2017

368. Nov 22 2014 – Barcelona v Sevilla: His 251st in LaLiga, surpassing Telmo Zarra as the league’s all-time top scorer.

500. Apr 23 2017 – Real Madrid v Barcelona: It does not get much sweeter, Messi brings up his 500th Barca goal with a last-gasp Clasico winner at the Santiago Bernabeu to breathe new life into the title race.