On December 30th, "Barcelona" leader Lionel Messi awaits a special match - one of the best footballers on the planet will play his 500th match for the Catalan club.
Debuting in the Barcelona team in 2004, the Argentinean exceeded all expectations and hopes to be awarded his fifth "Golden Ball" prize.
Interesting facts about L. Messi's career:
- in 499 matches for "Barcelona" Messi scored 424 goals. Average - 0.85 per game.
- the most skillful sniper shone in 2011-12, scoring a total of 73 goals (50 in "La Liga" championship, 14 in the Champions League).
- Messi was productive in 266 games. When he disappointed opposing goalkeepers, the team suffered only 9 defeats (3.4%).
- 236 goals were scored in front of his own fans, 174 - in away games, 14 - in neutral grounds.
- Messi enjoyed himself the most at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium (12 goals), while fans at the "Vicente Calderon" witnessed 11 goals.
- during this period, the player was coached by 5 strategists. He played the most matches in J. Guardiola's tactical schemes (219), and the least under G. Martino (46).
- Messi achieved the highest percentage of wins (77 out of 74) under the current coach L. Enrique (77%).
- in 499 matches on the field, Messi spent 39,670 minutes and also made 159 assists.
- with the "Barcelona" club, the forward won 26 trophies, including seven Spanish champion titles and four Champions League winner titles.
