Why Messi is the most valuable player in La Liga

The Argentine picked up two more goals on Saturday and helped his team to a vital win in the race for La Liga, something he does often.

Lionel Messi bagged another brace in Saturday’s win over Real Sociedad, helping Barcelona to a vital 3-2 win as the club try to run down Real Madrid and the title in La Liga.

The Argentine has now scored 29 times in the league this season, but it’s the importance of his goals that really stands out.

Barcelona’s superstar has picked up 17 points for his team with those 29 strikes, more than any other player in Spain’s top flight, begging the question of exactly where Barca would be without him.

And for anybody wondering if Messi is just benefiting from the service around him, take into account that he’s also scored more goals from outside the box than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

The Catalans will need Messi at his brilliant best over the next week, with Barcelona looking to overturn a 3-0 deficit against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-finals midweek before the crunch Clasico against Real Madrid next weekend.

Source: goal.com