Lionel Messi added another milestone to his illustrious cap after becoming just the seventh footballer to score 700 career goals. The Argentine completed the feat with a cheeky panenka spot-kick in the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid La Liga 2019-20 clash. Messi, who turned 33 on June 24, has scored 630 times for Barcelona in 724 appearances and another 70 goals for Argentina in 124 matches. The achievement, however, was a little sour as it was also the same night Barcelona were seemingly out of the contention for a third straight league title after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Atletico at home. Cristiano Ronaldo More Likely to Win Ballon d’Or 2020, Lionel Messi’s Rankings Drop.

Messi is already the top scorer by a mile for both club and country. He had over Barca legend Cesar Rodriguez (232) in 2012 and former Argentina international Gabriel Batistuta (52 goals) in 2016. He is also La Liga’s all-time record goalscorer with 441 strikes. He overtook former Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra, who had scored 251 goals, in 2014. Cristiano Ronaldo is second with 331 strikes for Real Madrid before he moved to Juventus in 2018.

Lionel Messi's 700th Career Goal A Panenka

Congratulations Messi

The Messi-Ronaldo Comparison

Messi Scores for 700th Time

Lionel Messi Does it in Style

The G.O.A.T

Greatness and Greatest Ever

The Argentine is also only the seventh player after Romario, Gerd Muller, Pele, Josef Bican, Ferenc Puskas and Cristiano Ronaldo to have reached 700 career goals. Among active players, only Messi and Ronaldo have now achieved the feat. Ronaldo has so far scoffed 725 career goals for both club and country.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2020 08:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).