Lionel Messi has equalled the record for the most appearances in a Barcelona shirt after he featured in the Spanish La Liga clash with Huesca, who are at the bottom of the league table. Barcelona played hosts to Huesca at the Nou Camp and it was Lionel Messi who led his team out on the occasion of his record equalling appearance. Former Barcelona teammate Xavi Hernandez had the record after he made 767 appearances for the Catalan giants during his illustrious football career but Messi has been able to equal that record. The Barcelona skipper was also able to mark the occasion with a brace, each goal coming in each half. Lionel Messi scored a wonder goal when they travelled to face French giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in the Champions League and hewas able toreplicate the feat in the Huesca game. Messi scored a very good goal and also missed a penalty all in the first half of the PSG game, which ended in a 1-1 draw and 5-2 on aggregate since the Catalans had lost the first leg 4-1 at home. By virtue of the aggregate loss, Barcelona were eliminated from the round of 16 stage in this year's Champions League.
Messi scored the opening goal of the home league match with Huescaas he produced a wonder goal in what was similar to his strike in the PSG game. It took just 13 minutes for Huesca to feel the wrath of the reigning Ballon d'Or player. Antoine Griezmann added a second goal for Barcelona in the final 15 minutes of the first half before the visitors pulled one back courtesy the penalty from Rafael Mir at the end of the first half. The striker scored from the spot after he was brought down in the box. Lionel Messi provided the assist for young defender Oscar Mingueza to head in a third goal for the hosts before the Argentine international skipper wrapped up proceedings with his brace and Barcelona’s fourth goal on the stroke of full-time.
Lionel Messi will have the opportunity to break the appearance record when Barcelona travel to the Basque region to face Real Sociedad this weekend.