27 February 2023 , 00:00
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Lionel Messi scored the 700th club goal of his career in PSG's win on Sunday as he joins Cristiano Ronaldo in the exclusive club.
The Portuguese superstar achieved the milestone earlier this year, netting against Everton, and left Manchester United having notched 701 times. His long-time rival has now also joined him by smashing his seventh century as he continues to shatter records.
The Argentine, who is enjoying an impressive second year in Paris, has scored the majority of his club goals for Barcelona, where he spent almost two decades. 672 of his strikes came for the Catalans with his remaining 28 coming during his time with the French club.
His historic accomplishment came as PSG got their Ligue 1 campaign back on track with a 3-0 success over arch rivals Marseille. Kylian Mbappe scored his 200th goal for the Parisians during the success, with Messi assisting his team-mate, who equalled Edinson Cavani's all-time goals record for the club.
Messi's legacy has long been cemented but he can further etch his name into the history books. Ronaldo left European football with 701 club goals to his name and is now out of the picture playing in Saudi Arabia. It means two more for Messi will see him have the outright lead.
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The 35-year-old also bought up the 700 mark in 840 games - 103 fewer that rival Ronaldo. His most prolific period came around a decade ago when he broke the record for amount of goals scored in a calendar year. His 2011/12 season remains his best over a campaign, netting 73 times.
Lionel Messi scored his 700th club goal against MarseilleThe Argentine is the odds-on favourite to claim what would be a staggering eighth Ballon d'Or. Him and Ronaldo were once tied on five each, but successes in 2019 and 2021 could be followed up by another in 2023.
That would largely be down to his World Cup success in Qatar. Messi broke further records at the World Cup - scoring in the group stage, the last 16, the quarter-final, the semi-final and the final en route to lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout victory over France. Messi was also named the tournament's best player.
Messi's future at PSG beyond this summer remains in doubt however with the forward out of contract. The Parisians are keen to retain his services but Barcelona and Inter Miami are both keen whilst Newell's Old Boys is also being touted as an option.