Most La Liga Hat-Tricks in a Season - The Argentina international holds the record for most La Liga hat-tricks in one season with eight (via Telegraph). If we do the math, it becomes even more staggering. Not only was Messi able to score three goals in eight separate matches, but he netted 24 times in those competitions. Not many players score 24 goals or even one hat-trick in a season.
Champions League Top Scorer Four Years in a Row - Lionel Messi is the only player to ever finish as the Champions League or European Cup top scorer in four straight seasons.
Most Goals Scored for Argentina in One Year - Lionel Messi joined Gabriel Batistuta as the players to score the most goals in one year having netted 12 times for Argentina.
Most Goals Scored in El Clasico - Lionel Messi accomplished the remarkable task of tying Alfredo Di Stefano's record for most goals scored in El Clasico. Both players now sit with 18 goals in the always famous meeting.
Most Goals Scored in a La Liga Season - Merely one season after Cristiano Ronaldo broke the La Liga record for most goals scored in one season with 41, Lionel Messi shattered the mark by netting 50 times (via fcbarcelona).
Most Goals in a Club Season - The Argentine scored an unbelievable 73 goals across all competitions, which previously was a number thought to be beyond the realm of possibility.
Barcelona's Top Goalscorer in Multiple Categories - Simply saying that Lionel Messi is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer .
Scoring in the Most Consecutive League Matches - The Argentine recently scored a brace on the weekend to extend his tally to 18 straight games in which he has scored in La Liga (via Fox).
Four-Time Winner of the FIFA Ballon D'Or - There remain no appropriate words to accurately describe how tremendous it was for Lionel Messi to win his fourth Ballon d'Or. The Argentine surpassed those who had been fortunate enough to win the award three times to truly cement his name among the greatest.
Some other pretty interesting records he broke or equalled are:
- Only player in CL history to score 16 braces.
- Only player to score 28 goals in the CL knockout stage
- Only player to be nominated 6 time ( consecutively) as a top 3 nominee for the Ballon D'or
- 14 goals in one CL season ( shared with Jose Altafini)
- Only player to score 59 goals in la liga in a calendar year.
- Only player to have scored and assisted in 6 different competitions in one season
- Youngest player to pass the 50 goal mark in the CL
- Only player to score 2 hat-trick in one CL season
- 1 of 3 players to have scored 4 goals twice in one game in the CL knockout stage ( shared with Di Stefano and Puskas...not bad company)
- But only one to have score 4 OR MORE goals twice in one game in the CL knockout stage.
- Record of 25 international goals in one year ( shared with vivian woodward 1909)
- Only player to score 25+ away goals in the CL.
- Only player to score 9 league goals against Casillas
- Only player to directly contribute to 29 goals in classicos ( 18 goals and 11 assists)
- Only player to score 35 la liga home goals in one season
Some other pretty interesting records he broke or equalled are:
- Only player in CL history to score 16 braces.
- Only player to score 28 goals in the CL knockout stage
- Only player to be nominated 6 time ( consecutively) as a top 3 nominee for the Ballon D'or
- 14 goals in one CL season ( shared with Jose Altafini)
- Only player to score 59 goals in la liga in a calendar year.
- Only player to have scored and assisted in 6 different competitions in one season
- Youngest player to pass the 50 goal mark in the CL
- Only player to score 2 hat-trick in one CL season
- 1 of 3 players to have scored 4 goals twice in one game in the CL knockout stage ( shared with Di Stefano and Puskas...not bad company)
- But only one to have score 4 OR MORE goals twice in one game in the CL knockout stage.
- Record of 25 international goals in one year ( shared with vivian woodward 1909)
- Only player to score 25+ away goals in the CL.
- Only player to score 9 league goals against Casillas
- Only player to directly contribute to 29 goals in classicos ( 18 goals and 11 assists)
- Only player to score 35 la liga home goals in one season