Madrid: Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to become Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer on 234 goals in a 5-3 win over Granada which moved the champions to within five points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
Tuesday was Barca’s sixth consecutive league win and puts pressure on Madrid ahead of their trip to Villarreal on Wednesday, three days after Jose Mourinho’s side dropped two points in a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola praised the record-breaking Argentinian.
“Everything has been said about Messi,” Guardiolasaid.
“He doesn’t score goals, he scores great goals and each one is almost better than the previous one. He has scored 234 goals as a 24-year-old and he does it day after day,” continued Guardiola.
“We are looking at absolutely the best player. He is able to do everything a footballer has to do and he does it every third day. There has never been anyone like him, he is different, and we are very happy to have him here and to live with him. I hope he stays for a long time.”
Xavi Hernandez and Messi hit the net for Barcelona in the first half before Diego Mainz reduced arrears for the Andalusians on 55 minutes.
In doing so, Messi equalled the record of 232 goals held by club legend Cesar Rodriguez.
Guilherme Siqueira levelled from the spot for the away side seven minutes later after Dani Alves pulled down Dani Benitez, raising the prospect of a possible upset.
However those fears lasted only minutes as Messi produced a trademark chip over Granada’s Brazilian ‘keeper Julio Cesar in the 67th minute to put Barcelona 3-2 ahead.
Cristian Tello then drove the ball into the net after Messi’s shot was parried by Cesar to make it 4-2 for the hosts, and Messi followed up with another fine piece of individual skill to make it 5-2 in the 86th minute.
Dani Alves received a second yellow card on 88 minutes for handling the ball in the area and Siqueira scored from the spot again, moments before the final whistle.
Previously, Cesar was believed to have scored 235 goals for Barcelona, but a study had revealed that the 1950’s striker had in fact scored 232 goals — a statistic confirmed earlier on Tuesday on Barca’s website.
Messi’s latest hat-trick, taking his Barca total to 234, also made it 34 goals so far in the league, two more than Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Earlier on Tuesday evening Osasuna and Getafe drew 0-0 in an uneventful match.
The result means both teams edge a point closer to the objective of safety that both managers have set for their sides this week.
However an Osasuna victory would have temporarily placed the side from Pamplona in fourth position and in a Champions League qualifying place.
Instead Osasuna remain sixth on 40 points, a point behind fourth placed Levante, while Getafe sit four points behind in 11th. (Agencies)