The GOAT? Messi equals Pele´s one-club goals haul

Lionel Messi has equalled Pele’s one-club goals haul after chalking up his 643rd for Barcelona against Valencia.

Brazil great Pele, regarded by many as the best to ever play the game, scored 643 times in just 656 matches for Santos between 1956 and 1974.

While Pele’s overall goals record for his entire career is disputed, he did net 643 goals in official competition for Santos.

Some believed Pele’s haul to be a world record in top-level football, though statisticians are unable to confirm this with absolute certainty.

Nevertheless, this is unlikely to detract from Messi’s accomplishment, as he drew level with Pele’s remarkable total after scoring with a header in first-half stoppage time on Saturday.

Having initially seen a penalty saved by Jaume Domenech, Messi got his milestone goal when he met a cross from the left and nodded home from point-blank range.