- Lionel Messi sits top of the La Liga all-time goalscoring charts with 253 strikes at just the age of 27
- Former Athletic Bilbao star Telmo Zarra's hit 251 goals in 15 years at Athletic Bilbao between 1940 and 1955
- Messi opened the scoring for the hosts with a trademark free-kick in the first half
- Sevilla equalised shortly after half-time when Barcelona defender Jordi Alba scored an own goal
- Neymar made it 2-1 to the Catalan giants two minutes later heading home a Xavi free-kick
- Ivan Rakitic extended Barcelona's lead netting against his former club with a powerful header
- Messi broke Zarra's record with his second goal of the night in the 71st minute
- The Argentina captain completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes finishing low after a neat one-two with Neymar
The
scary thing is that Lionel Messi still has years to go. At just 27 years
old, he became the all-time top scorer in Spanish football history,
scoring a brilliant hat-trick to cement his place in the record books
above Telmo Zarra.
Messi
began the game on 250 goals, one behind the former Athletic Bilbao
striker. He ended it on 253, putting paid to the last few weeks of
wondering just how and when he would eventually become, inarguably, the
greatest goalscorer La Liga has ever known.
Of
course, Messi is so much more than a goalscorer. Sevilla found that out
the hard way on Saturday night, with the Argentine the heartbeat of a
Barcelona side which didn’t trip up in a potentially tricky clash
against Unai Emery’s high-flying Andalusians, moving back to second
place, two points behind Real Madrid.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Barcelona 5-1 Sevilla
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi (top) created history as he became La Liga's all-time top goalscorer on Saturday
Messi (top) is hoisted up high by his Barcelona team-mates after his second goal of the night broke Telmo Zarra's record
Messi (centre) slid home his second - and Barcelona's fourth of the night against Sevilla - to score his 252nd goal in La Liga
The
Nou Camp chanted his name, his team-mates threw him up into the air,
giving him the bumps. Messi walked towards the tunnel, clutching the
match ball. Before he was allowed to leave, the Barcelona team stood by
his side, watching a video of his goals and clips of his former
team-mates and coaches hailing him.
Messi
looked taken aback, almost sheepish as some of his greatest moments
were played out to the 78,000 spectators. But he also looked happy.
Despite his comments earlier this week, suggesting his future may lie
elsewhere, it’s almost impossible to see him leaving his home here. The
other Barcelona players gave him a guard of honour as he left the field.
By
contrast, Luis Suarez is still searching for his first Barcelona goal
and was denied by Sevilla goalkeeper Beto when he raced on to a clipped
through ball. The striker switched positions with Messi after 15
minutes, taking the centre-forward role while the Argentine moved to the
right.
Messi's
position is never easy to describe, as he drifts inside when he
fancies, and on one such excursion he was knocked to the ground by Ever
Banega on the edge of the box. It was a cheap free-kick to give away and
Messi made Sevilla pay a hefty price. He arrowed the ball into the top
left corner, leaving Beto clutching at thin air.
The
scoreboard lit up with a message to congratulate Messi on reaching
Zarra's all-time record and the relief on the Barcelona legend's face
was clear for the world to see. Relief for having matched the record,
relief even for having scored for the first time in La Liga for over a
month. Neither obstacle was likely to last long in the face of this
footballing giant.
The
last few weeks have not been a happy time for Barcelona. A couple of
defeats, combined with a poor performance away at Almeria have led to a
lot of questions being asked about the coach’s tactics and methods.
There
were questions being asked just a minute into the second half. Vitolo
got down the left and fired the ball across. Barcelona’s on loan
midfielder Denis Suarez battled with Claudio Bravo for the loose ball,
which cannoned off the unfortunate Jordi Alba and into the net.
Messi celebrates giving Barcelona the lead with a sumptuous free-kick against Sevilla in the first half
The 27-year-old celebrated his strike in his trademark manner by pointing to the heavens
Messi (far right) watches on as his 20-yard free-kick curls up and over the wall into the top left-hand corner
Messi (centre left) is hugged by his Barcelona team-mates as that goal was his record-equalling 251st in La Liga
Messi's achievement is hailed by the Nou Camp faithful with the scoreboard paying homage to his achievement
Sevilla players celebrate their equaliser in the opening stages of the second half courtesy of an own goal from Jordi Alba
Neymar (centre) restored Barcelona's lead just minutes later, heading home a Xavi free-kick
Neymar wheeled away in celebration of his strike as his impressive start to the season at the Catalan giants continues
The 22-year-old (right) engaged in some samba-style dancing with his club and international team-mate Dani Alves after his goal
But
before the stadium had a chance to whistle its displeasure in the usual
fashion, Barcelona were back in front. Xavi curled in a free-kick from
the left and Neymar rose highest to nod home his 11th league goal of the
season.
While
Messi is the superstar and Suarez is the star signing, Neymar’s own
star has been rising higher this season. The Brazilian has become far
more effective in front of goal this term, spurred on by his impressive
World Cup campaign.
Gerard
Pique's exile from the Barcelona side was ended by Enrique for this
match. His last appearance was in the Clasico defeat at the Bernabeu,
where he gave away a penalty. Whether he was missing because of some
weak performances or a string of disciplinary offences has never been
clarified by the Asturian coach, but regardless, the punishment now
appears to be over.
Pique
won't get away scot free with his role in the Sevilla goal, with both
the Spaniard and Dani Alves culpable of switching off, far more to blame
than the actual player who put through his own net.
Barcelona
had dominated the first half, with only poor finishing and a couple of
agricultural Sevilla challenges preventing them from further increasing
their lead. A brilliant Beto save from Neymar on the stroke of half-time
was the closest they came to doing so, while Suarez was denied after
Messi had played a sublime ball to Alba, who sought out the Uruguayan.
Ivan Rakitic (left) extended Barcelona's lead with a header just after the hour mark at the Camp Nou
Rakitic celebrates in a subdued manner after scoring against his former side on Saturday night
Messi is congratulated by Barcelona team-mates Neymar and Luis Suarez after scoring his third goal of the night
While
Suarez has had trouble finding the net, the first few weeks of his
Barcelona career - after his lengthy suspension for biting ended - have
been fruitful. He has created several opportunities for his team-mates,
setting up both Barca goals in a man-of-the-match second half substitute
appearance against Almeria. And he made another one here, eking out the
perfect cross for Ivan Rakitic to head home from close range.
The
Croatian diligently finished off the chance but looked mortified at
having scored against his former side. He was the star performer in
Sevilla’s run to the Europe League final and eventual triumph last
season, although his start to life at Barcelona has been mixed.
But
whatever problems there are at Barcelona will have to be analysed
another day. Messi made sure of that. He surged in to meet Neymar’s
cross at full-length and poke home from a yard, to become the all-time
top goalscorer in La Liga history. If he hadn’t reached it, Suarez would
have had an easy tap in. But Messi does reach things that he shouldn’t.
No player will overtake him for many, many years. And at only 27, he’s
got plenty more goals to add to his tally.
He
began the task immediately. Messi’s third goal was the best of the
night, a sprawling dribble, cutting from right to left, a quick-fire one
two with Neymar, a light touch to take it out of his feet, and then one
of those low, placed drives from distance that he makes look so
fantastically easy. That's what Messi does. He makes things look
fantastically easy - even the impossible.
Messi applauds the 78,000 fans who witnessed his record-breaking feat at the Nou Camp on Saturday at full-time
Messi is presented with the match ball and congratulated by his Barcelona team-mates in a presentation after the match
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