Barca's Bad Season Did Not Prevent Messi From Making A Record For Goals And Assists

Lionel Messi (Twitter @fcbarcelona)

JAKARTA - Lionel Messi set a new record in La Liga, he made a total of 21 assists in one season. This achievement was recorded by Messi when Barcelona against Alaves on Sunday, 19 July evening.

Launching MARCA on Monday, Xavi Hernandez previously held the record with a total of 20 assists for Barcelona in the 2008/09 season. Meanwhile, to complete his 21 assists, Messi also scored 25 goals in La Liga as well as crowning him as a Pichichi.

In a match that ended in Los Blaugarana's 5-0 win last night, La Pulga scored two goals in 34 and 75 minutes. Messi left Karim Benzema locked up with his 21 goals and earned the seventh Pichichi award in his career.

👟⚽ 2009 / 10👟⚽ 2011 / 12👟⚽ 2012 / 13👟⚽ 2016 / 17👟⚽ 2017 / 18👟⚽ 2018 / 19👟⚽ 2019/20 https://t.co/X2XXPhZ6Fo

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) July 19, 2020

Further, this is the fourth consecutive season Messi has finished at the top of Spain's top scorer.

Previously, Hugo Sanchez also did the same thing in the 1984/85 - 1987/88 season. However, of the four consecutive Pichichi he has won, only three have he registered as a Real Madrid player. Another season, he won with Atletico Madrid.

The number of goals scored by Messi this season is actually not comparable to the number of goals he scored in 2011/12 or the 36 goals he scored last season. But, that was enough to take the Pichichi at this opportunity.

He didn't just lead La Liga in goals for the 7th time in his career.He also led La Liga with 21 assists this season, (yet) another record. #Messions. pic.twitter.com/FqWFVbnFwS

- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 19, 2020

The last time the Pichichi were won by a few goals as they are today was in the 2006/07 season. Back then, Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy secured him with the same amount as Messi.

Of particular note for Messi is that, at 33 years of age, his immensely important figure for Barcelona is clear for all to see.

Netted 25 goals from a total of 86 goals scored by Barcelona, meaning the captain scored 29 percent of the Catalans' goals this season.

Only 11 Barcelona players have won the Pichichi in the club's history. Apart from Messi, there are names like Cesar Rodriguez, Cayetano Re, Charly Rexach, Kronkl, Quini (twice), Romario, Ronaldo Nazario, Samuel Eto'o, and Luis Suarez.

According to the Twitter account @FootballFunnnys, Messi even set another special record. The player who always fails in Argentina's senior national team is included in the 'Club 1000' list.

Lionel Messi, the first and only member of the official 1000 club. 1000 official goals & assists. ✅ 867 games⚽️ 702 goals🐐298 assists Pure greatness. 👑 pic.twitter.com/2v7pnuEThm

- FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) July 19, 2020

With a combined total of 702 goals and 298 official assists made, La Pulga became the first and only member to be involved in the 1000 goals of Barcelona and Argentina.