Messi is back: 16 consecutive seasons scoring goals and breaking records
He's the only player in history to hit that number after his goal against Sevilla
"I will never forget the first pass from Ronni." Fourteen years have passed since Messi's first goal with the first team at Barcelona, on May 1, 2005, against Albacete but the Argentine still has it in his memory.
In goal that day was Raúl Valbuena, who is now part of Real Madrid's coaching staff. Messi's father, Jorge Messi, was in the stands watching live. His brother, Rodrigo, learned of the goal while working at a restaurant in the Gotico area of Barcelona. And his mother Celia when she got off a plane at El Prat airport.
The goal is also remembered for the assist from Ronaldinho -- and the celebration which followed with the Brazilian. It was the photograph of the match. And another sign that the kid Messi was special.
Since then, Messi has been breaking records every season. Beating down new barriers while becoming more and more influential in his team's play. He's less savage dribbler, as he was in those early years, and more playmaker now.
With Sunday's goal against Sevilla, his first of the season, he's now scored at Camp Nou in each of the last 16 years. A statistic that no one can better: Rexach (15), Xavi (15), Iniesta (13), Asensi (11), Carrasco (11) o Piqué (11).
It was also his 420th La Liga goal and his 604th with Barcelona. Numbers which detail his evolution. He's scored 495 with his left foot, which is always his best weapon, 85 with his right and 22 with his head. There was also one with his hand. And one with his chest. 351 at Camp Nou. And 253 away from Camp Nou or at neutral grounds.
The numbers are of a player who will mark an era: 692 games, 604 goals, 234 assists and 34 trophies. It seems a lifetime since he replaced Cesar in 2011 as the club's record scorer -- 232 goals.
The Argentine star became the top goalscorer in the Spanish league, overtaking Zarra, when he reached 253 goals in La Liga on Nov. 22, 2014. But he's always pointed out that it's team trophies and not individual glory which he covets. And he's had that, too, winning 34 trophies with the club.
Iniesta is closest to him with 32. And then comes Piqué (29), Busquets (29), Xavi (27), Alves (24) and Valdés (21). No one is more important in Barcelona's recent history than Leo Messi.
No one matches his goal-scoring numbers. On Sunday at Camp Nou he scored goal 604. Fourteen years after that first goal against Albacete, Messi keeps destroying records.
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