Leo Messi is breaking records

FC Barcelona and Messi are shining with its own light.

Leo Messi showed his goalscoring efficiency once again. His second strike of three during Barcelona's 7-0 Copa del Rey semi-final first leg win against Valencia FC allowed him to hit his 500th career goal at just 28 years old. 

They include all games for Argentina, including at U20 level and Olympics, as well as Barcelona. His second goal was the 435th official strike with FC Barcelona. Add the 49 from Argentina, the 14 at U20 level and the 23 with the Olympic side, and you have 500. 501, now, after his third. 

Lionel Messi has won 26 titles with his goals at Barcelona, as well as the Olympic gold in 2008, after Pep Guardiola let him play in the tournament.

On the other hand, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona are producing statistics which can’t be disputed this season. In fact, if they don’t lose on Wednesday against Valencia in the Spanish Cup semi-final first leg, they will equal the record set by Rinus Michels’ Barcelona, who went 27 games unbeaten in the 1973-74 season. Then, the only FC Barcelona team with a better record would be Pep Guardiola’s side that went 28 games without losing in 2010-11. 

On the current run, Luis Enrique’s side have won 21 games and drawn five more. They’re numbers which can’t be argued with. It was October 3 of last year when they last lost a game, beaten 2-1 at Sevilla. Since then, however, they have not tasted defeat. We are talking no less than four months without losing. 

To beat Guardiola’s record, Luis Enrique will have to avoid defeat in games against Valencian opposition. That’s the two Spanish Cup semi-final games against Valencia FC and the league game, which takes place in the middle, at Levante on Sunday. 

And for those that like statistics, more data: Luis Enrique’s Barcelona are about to stretch their unbeaten run at Camp Nou to one year. The last time they were beaten was by Malaga on February 21, 2015.