Messi’s five goals in that match, mean for Barcelona and Argentina he has now scored 250 goals in 378 games, 49 in 53 games this season. His tally in European matches is now 54. What a Phenomenon!!!
Don't mess with Lionel Messi, he is currently the best footballer in the universe.
Lionel Messi became the first player to score 5 goals in one Champions League game last night, 7th March 2012, and moved to within 7 goals of becoming the highest goalscorer in Barcelona’s history at the age of just 24.
His feat of 5 goals in a single Champions League game has never been achieved before, not even by such football greats in modern era such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and others.
In the match against Leverkusen at Nou Camp, Barcelona is leading 3-1 on aggregate.
Messi opened the scoring on 25 minutes from a Xavi Hernandez pass. He got the second from a Cesc Fabregas pass just before the break in the 42nd minute, and in the second half with Barcelona already safely into the quarter-final draw he went into overdrive.
He scored from Andrés Iniesta’s pass four minutes into the second period, and again after 58 and 84 minutes.
Cristian Tello also scored two goals for Barcelona and on any other night the 20 year-old would have been the story, but there was no overshadowing the little man who is beginning to dwarf so many of the game’s greats.
There was a fight between Bayer Leverkusen players after the first leg as to who would take his shirt — this time he kept it on as he picked up the match ball and made for the tunnel.
“It’s nice to score five goals, I don’t recall having done it before in my career, I’m very happy,” Messi said.
Messi’s historic 5 goals mean for Barcelona and Argentina he has now scored 250 goals in 378 games, 49 in 53 games this season. His tally in European matches is now 54.
He has 49 goals in the history of Champions League, with 12 goals this season — that is twice more than the second highest scorer Mario Gómez’s 6 goal tally.
To put the records in context, Raúl was 27 when he reached the 49-goal mark in the Champions League. Messi is 3 years his junior. He draws level with Alfredo Di Stéfano as the 6th highest goalscorer in the competition’s history.
"It’s not easy to score five goals in one game. I can say that because I only scored 11 in my entire career. Give him another game and he will equal me,” said Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola after the game.
Guadiola added : “He is the best in the world and I am lucky to say that I have coached him. He is unique in terms of talent but also in terms of his competitiveness.
“He does not think about the big records. He scores one and tries to score the second; he gets the second; and he wants the third; that is how he thinks.
“He is among the greatest of all time. When Di Stefano played they said there would never be another and along came Johan Cruyff; they said there would never be another and along came Maradona; now we have Messi.
"And I should include Pelé or he will get upset.”
Bayer Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt said: “There are no words for Messi and with him in the side Barça are from another galaxy.” !!!
Hail to Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina. Long Live Liverpool and Brazil....
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