Messi makes it 17 consecutive seasons scoring in Spain's top flight
'Piru' Gaínza holds the record: 19 years scoring in LaLiga
Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot on Sunday as Barcelona kicked off the 2020-21 campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over Villarreal.
It was the latest goal of hundred in a Barça shirt but this one also meant something else: Messi has now scored in Spain's top flight in each of the last 17 seasons.
The Argentine forward is closing in on the record posted by the Athletic Bilbao forward Piru Gainza. He scored in 19 consecutive seasons between 1939 and 1959.
Only three players are in a position to match him at the moment: Messi, Sergio Ramos and Joaquin, all three still active, while Gento and Santillana's runs ended at 17 seasons.
However, Joaquin has not scored in consecutive seasons, given he spent three years with Italian side Fiorentina.
As for Ramos, he and Messi have both scored in the last 17 LaLiga seasons and are two seasons away from matching Gainza's historic feat.
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