LIONEL MESSI has proved he has twenty-twenty vision by pulling off a stunning feat that’s only ever been done by one other footballing great.
The Barca master has scored 20 goals and provided 20 assists in a single season – a record once achieved by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Lionel Messi has become the first player in La Liga history to net 20 goals and provide 20 assists in a single season in Spain’s top divisionCredit: PA:Press Association
Arsenal’s top scorer Thierry Henry achieved the record of scoring 20 times and providing 20 assists in the Premier League in 2002-03 Credit: Reuters
And the Nou Camp skipper, who’s 33, managed to pull off his impressive effort despite missing the first two months of this season with injuries.
The Argentina playmaker, delivered a glorious pass to Arturo Vidal who thumped home the winning goal in Barcelona’s match against Valladoid on Saturday.
Messi’s assist means he’s become the first player in La Liga history to score 20 times and provide 20 assists in the same season.
The only other time this record has been achieved was in the Premier League during the term preceding Arsenal’s invincible season.
Thierry Henry was on target 24 times for the Gunners in 2002-03 when they finished second in the table behind champions Manchester United.
And the World Cup winning Frenchman, who remains Arsenal’s record goalscorer, racked up 20 assists for his team mates.
By comparison, the closest Cristiano Ronaldo came to the feat was when he scored 48 goals and had 17 assists in a single La Liga season in 2014-15.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed 48 league goals and 17 assists in the 2014-15 seasonCredit: AFP
Barcelona’s win on Saturday means they’re now only a point behind Real Madrid in La Liga.
However Zinedine Zidane’s side, who play Granada away tomorrow evening, have a game in hand.
And wins for Madrid in their three remaining fixtures should the see the league title return to the Bernabeu for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
ESPN FC discuss whether a Manchester City move would be right for Lionel Messi
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
