LIONEL MESSI enjoyed a record-setting 2019 but he still shows no sign of slowing down.
The 32-year-old lifted a tenth La Liga title on route to overtaking Xavi with the most wins in Barcelona’s history as well as Iker Casillas for the most league victories overall.
Lionel Messi has his eyes on another record-breaking year in 2020
The Argentine proved he was really back to his best with a historic sixth Ballon d’Or win and his 34 club trophies mean he is the most decorated Barca player ever.
However, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed Messi’s desire to keep improving mean he will inevitably break more records next year.
Here are 20 records Barcelona’s No10 can achieve in 2020…
1. 500 Barcelona wins
Messi has already overtaken club icon Xavi as the player with the most Barcelona wins, with his astonishing record showing that he has been victorious 498 times in his 705 official games.
At the earliest, the Argentine can reach the landmark 500 against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup next Thursday should the Catalans also beat Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday.
2. 900 Career games
Messi currently has played 843 matches since his debut for Barcelona as a 16-year-old in 2004.
138 of those came in the Argentine national team, with the forward on track to reach the legendary 900 next year should he remain injury-free.
3. 700 Career goals
Messi marked his 600th goal for Barcelona in style with an incredible free-kick during the Champions League semi-final first-leg 3-0 win over Liverpool at the Nou Camp back in May.
He has since taken his tally in blue-and-red to 618, with his 70 strikes for Argentina leaving him just 12 shy of the magic 700.
4. Fifth Champions League
Messi narrowly fell short of his pursuit of a fifth Champions League victory last season after that iconic 4-0 semi-final defeat at Anfield.
But should Barca’s No10 failed to be denied this term, he will overhaul both Xavi and Andres Iniesta following his success in 2006, 2009, 2011, and 2015.
5. Eleventh La Liga
Should Messi win a third successive La Liga crown, he would be left just one behind the legendary Francisco Gento’s haul of 12 with Real Madrid.
Barcelona currently sit top of the pile heading into the winter break, two points above Los Blancos after 18 games.
6. Overtake Pele
Two of the greatest of all time, Brazilian legend Pele holds the feat of scoring the most goals at a single club – netting 643 for Santos between 1956 and 1974.
Messi, on the other hand, stands at 618 goals for Barcelona across competitions and requires only 25 to overhaul the World Cup Winner next year.
7. Player with the most titles
Former teammate Dani Alves has been recognised as the most successful man in history after becoming the first player to win 40 trophies.
It will be a tall order for Messi, who is currently on 34, to draw level with the Brazilian, with the Argentine needing a clean sweep for club and country in 2020.
8. Overtake Telmo Zarra with record 7th Pichichi award
Messi will enter the new year leading the scoring charts in La Liga with 13 strikes to his name, just one above Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
If he can keep up his efforts in the second half of the season he will claim a seventh Pichichi award (league top goalscorer) to overtake Athletic Bilbao icon Telmo Zarra.
9. Seventh Golden Boot
Messi is already the only one who has been crowned the top scorer of the European Leagues six times but he has the chance to further extend his legacy.
Nearest rival Cristiano Ronaldo has won the gong four times, but only has ten goals to his name for Juventus in Serie A in the race for the Golden Boot.
10. Seventh Ballon d’Or
After once winning the coveted world player of the year for four successive years, Messi ended a mini-drought to reclaim his spot as the best with a record-setting sixth win in Paris earlier this month.
Should he manage to defend his crown at the ripe old age of 33 next year, he would become the third-oldest player ever to do so behind Stanley Matthews (41) and Lev Yashin (34).
11. Win the Copa America
Messi also has the chance to end his long-awaited bid for a first title with Argentina, with his home country set to hold the Copa America in June.
The 32-year-old was runner-up of the continental tournament in 2016 and 2017 and was on the end of a 2-1 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
12. Most Champions League hat-tricks
Messi is currently the joint leader of the most hat-tricks in Europe’s premier competition alongside CR7, with both boasting eight trebles to their name.
13. Most Free-kick goals
Messi underlined his prowess from ranged set-pieces with a hat-trick of goals from dead balls that included two stunning free-kicks in the 4-1 win over Celta Vigo in November.
But he has still has 24 similar strikes to go to catch Brazilian Juninho Pernambucano.
14. Most Barcelona appearances
Last season Messi overtook Iniesta (674) as second in the list of Barcelona’s all-time appearance makers.
With 705 games under his belt, the Argentine is just 62 from catching former teammate Xavi Hernandez which can only be possible in 2020 if the Catalans go the distance in all club competitions.
15. 600 games as Barcelona’s No.10
Although he burst onto the scene with his N0.19 shirt, Messi has also featured in the No.30 as a youngster before inheriting Ronaldinho’s famous No.10.
He has since worn that shirt for 595 games, with the earliest chance to make history coming against Levante in February.
16. Seventh Champions League top goal scorer
Messi is the reigning Champions League top goal scorer winner, having netted twelve times to steer Barcelona to the semi-finals of last year’s competition.
Injuries have restricted the ace to just two goals this term, eight shy of Robert Lewandowski, with the Argentine needing a remarkable turnaround in the knock-out stages to overhaul the Pole.
17. Catch Ronaldo in the Champions League
Part of catching up in this year’s Champions League charts will also see Messi close the gap overall on Ronaldo.
He is 14 behind the Portuguese superstar, who has made this competition his own in recent times with three wins in his last four and 128 strikes to his name.
18. Most Champions League matches
At 140 games in the Champions League, Messi is only 11 behind Xavi, who holds the record for Barcelona.
In the overall standings, Casillas is the leading appearance maker at 177, with Ronaldo not far behind at 168.
19. Goals in three Champions League final
Should Barcelona reach this year’s finale in Istanbul, Messi will have the chance to make his mark by netting in three different Champions League finals.
He is currently level with Samuel Eto’o with two, having netted in two separate finals against Manchester United.
20. Most El Clasico appearances for Barcelona
Messi equalled close friend Xavi’s record of playing in as many as 42 El Clasico’s this year, with the Argentine set to play in another two next year to make the record his own.
Lionel Messi tears his Barca teammates to shreds with outrageous training display
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
