Sports

Messi scores 400th La Liga goal

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi further etched his name into Spanish football history by becoming the first player to score 400 goals in La Liga when he netted against Eibar on Sunday.

The Argentine, who has been the competition's all-time top scorer since 2014, calmly slotted in a pass from Luis Suarez from close range for the league leaders' second goal in their 3-0 victory.

Messi, named as the Barcelona captain at the start of this season, was making his 435th La Liga appearance for the club where he has spent his entire career, having made his league debut in 2004.

The 31-year-old has won nine La Liga titles and is on course to win a 10th, with Barca currently five points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings.

Manager Ernesto Valverde said after the game: "Well I imagine he will [get to 500 goals]. 400 goals is just an incredible thing. It's easy to say, but really you don't know the reality of that until you try to score them.

"He's an extraordinary player. He's not only a goal scorer. He's a born goal scorer but he also generates play, the assists, everything he gives the team in general."

Source: Sky sports