MADRID: Lionel Messi is 34 goals short of becoming Barcelona’s all-time top scorer after netting a hat-trick in the Champions League, and the only real question left is when he will achieve that accolade and not if.
The World Player of the Year took his Barca tally to 202 goals from 286 appearances in the 4-0 victory away to Viktoria Plzen, putting the holders into the last 16 of the competition with two games to spare.
”Messi will pass Cesar (Rodriguez) to become the top scorer in the history of the club, I consider it a done deal, and I don’t rule out that it will happen this year,” Barca coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.
”And he’s only 24. This says it all.”
Spain striker Cesar scored 235 official goals for Barcelona between 1942-55 and his total is within reach during this campaign for the Argentine on current form. (Reuters)