When Lionel Messi Approaches Diego Maradona's Record

JAKARTA - The match between Valencia and Barcelona has passed. But there is a special record that Lionel Messi recorded in this match. What is that?

Messi's free-kick against Valencia on Sunday is his 50th in a Barcelona shirt. He scored against Jasper Cillessen in the second half at the Mestalla.

With this goal, Messi increased his total free-kick goals to 56, with club and country.

The number is only three goals away from Diego Maradona's Argentine record of 59 free kicks throughout his career.

Meanwhile, in terms of total free kicks compatriot Messi has surpassed the records of Manuel Pelegrina (45) and Daniel Passarella (43).

This weekend, Messi will face the same team where he scored his first free-kick for Barcelona, namely Atletico Madrid.

The 32-year-old first scored with a free kick on 4 October 2008, in Barcelona's 6-1 win over Los Rojiblancos.