All-time top scorer for the Spanish giant hit a wonderful and glorious landmark 700 goals for club and country by smoothly chipping the ball from the 6-yard into the net for a Panenka penalty as he sent Jan Oblak the wrong side between the sticks.
Atletico fought back to level the game 2-2 but the goal from the talisman put Barcelona 2-1 at the time the panenka goal was chipped in.
With that draw against Atletico Madrid, The Spanish club now are one point behind the leader Real Madrid, who have a greater advantage with a game in hand for the Zinedine Zidane Side. That was his 630th goal in 724th appearance for the Spanish giant with that penalty. The first goal of the game, Lionel Messi also played a part in it when his whipped corner took a deflection off the body of Diego Costa into the net.
The Brazilian born-Spanish striker Diego Costa had a chance to redeem himself when his teammate Yannick Carrasco was fouled box only for his penalty to be saved by Barcelona’s goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen but due to an error from the keeper who stepped out of his line earlier. Ter Stegen was sent the wrong way this time by Saul Niguez who retook the penalty.
Been level at 1-1, Barcelona’s lead was restored by Messi who reached his career milestone with the panenka cheeky penalty which was named after the famous Antonin Panenka for his penalty for the Czechoslovakia in the European 1976 final but Saul Niguez was equal to the task by equalising for Atletico Madrid from the penalty spot.
Messi joins the 700 Club
It’s another year, and Messi have also achieved another milestone.
After netting the 600th time for the club, his 700th career goal came just over 14 months putting him up there in the league of players with 700th career goals.
Messi is now among the Seven players to have reached the 700th career goal as per data released by Opta.
Leading the way with 805 career goals is the Czech-Austrian Josef Bican, following him 772 career goals is Brazilian Legend Romario while on the third place with 767 career goals is Pele. Ferenc Puskas, the Hungary Legend has 746 goals, rounding up the top five with 735 goals is Gerd Muller, the former Germany striker. Occupying the top five goalscorers are Josef Bican, Romario, Pele, Gerd Muller, and Ferenc Puskas.
The sixth man on the chart is Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s rival who achieved the great feat with a strike for Portugal at the Euro 2020 qualifier in October Last year against Ukraine. A further 26 goals he has added to his tally.
Legendary Players With 700+ Career Goals
| PLAYER | NATIONALITY | MAJOR CLUBS | GOALS | YEARS BETWEEN GOALS |
| JOSEF BICAN | CZECH-AUSTRIAN | RAPID VIENNA, PRAGUE | 805 | 1951-1955 |
| ROMARIO | BRAZILIAN | VASO DA GAMA, PSV, BARCELONA | 772 | 1985-2007 |
| PELE | BRAZILIAN | SANTOS, NEW YORK COSMOS | 767 | 1957-1977 |
| FERENC PUSKAS | HUNGARIAN | BUDAPEST,HONVED,REAL MADRID | 746 | 1943-1966 |
| GERD MULLER | GERMAN | BAYERN MUNICH | 735 | 1962-1981 |
| CRISTIANO RONALDO | PORTUGAL | SPORTING CP, MSN UTD, REAL MADRID, JUVENTUS | 726 | 2002-PRESENT |
| LIONEL MESSI | ARGENTINA | BARCELONA | 700 | 2005-PRESENT |
Breaking down Messi’s journey to 700
Career goal for Messi for both club and country and the progression – In each of the past 11 calendar years, Messi has scored more than 40 goals for country and club and more than 50 goals in the past 9 year out of 10.
Messi only failed to score against three teams which include Xerez, CadXeiz and, Real Murcia out of the 40 La Liga opponents he faced. The Argentine superstar has scored more goals at the club level mostly.
Being a left-footer, majority of his goals came from it with 582 goals while his right foot has produced 92 goals. Only 24 out of his 700 goals were produced from a header. Messi who is clinical and deadly from the dead ball has produced 52 direct free-kicks and 90 penalties. Out of all the 700 goals, 120 came from outside of the penalty box while 508 came from inside the box.
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