Lionel Messi’s double for PSG in the 7-2 win over Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday set another UEFA Champions League record.
Messi is now the first player to score in 18 consecutive editions of the UEFA Champions League.
“And he is the only to have scored in 16 successive campaigns in Europe’s top club competition for the same team,” UEFA wrote.
The former Barcelona skipper has since narrowed the gap to his eternal rival Ronaldo to 11 goals in the UCL.
Messi took his tally to 129 goals and is getting closer to Ronaldo’s haul of 140 goals in the UCL.
The Portuguese superstar is the Champions League all-time leading scorer followed by the PSG front-man.
However, Messi trails Ronaldo in the number of Champions League goals probably because he has played fewer 160 matches.
The 35-year-old Messi scored alongside Killian Mbappe (a double), Neymar Junior, Carlos Soler and Shon Godberg own goal.
Seck grabbed a double for the Israeli champions.
The Argentine has now scored four goals and provided three assists in four Champions League games this campaign.
On the other hand, the want-away Manchester United forward Ronaldo has played 180 games in the Champions League.
This edition of the Champions League presents Messi an opportunity to get even close to Ronaldo’s tally. The Portuguese talisman is not involved in the Champions league.
Ronaldo is having to compete in the second-tier Europa League due to United’s perennial struggles.
The Red Devils finished outside the top-four slot in the Premier League, missing out on the continental competition.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier has since credited the win over the Israel champions Haifa to team-work. PSG have qualified to the round-of-16 following the win.
“And for me, they really enjoyed playing together. And when players at this level enjoy playing together, it provides this kind of match,” he told the club’s website.
PSG matches have always been marred by reports of disharmony among Neymar, Mbappe and Messi. The French striker is said to be the problem boy.
However, there seem to be harmony now with all of them thriving and Messi has also rediscovered his spark.
Messi has scored 11 goals in 16 games across all competitions for the French Ligue 1 champions.
Last season, Messi was a pale shadow of himself scoring just six goals in 26 domestic league games for PSG.
Messi was forced out of Barcelona last season ending a 20-year romance that bore four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga trophies, seven Copa de Rey and three UEFA Super Cups.
