{"id":1278158,"date":"2022-09-14T21:37:10","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T20:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1278158"},"modified":"2022-09-14T21:37:10","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T20:37:10","slug":"lionel-messi-champions-league-record-cristiano-ronaldo","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/lionel-messi-champions-league-record-cristiano-ronaldo\/","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi capitalises on Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s UCL absence to break one of his records"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lionel Messi has broken another record as pundits and analysts start to sound like broken records.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, he’s done it again. Argentina’s pint-sized genius has reached yet another unprecedented milestone to consolidate his status as arguably the greatest player to have ever laced up their boots.<\/p>\n

With PSG toiling and surprisingly trailing against Champions League greenhorns Maccabi Haifa in their match-up on Wednesday night, Messi — ever the protagonist — took matters into his own hands to restore parity and wrestle back control.<\/p>\n\n

Tjaronn Chery scored a goal he’ll be telling his grandkids for years to come in the 24th minute, but soon after, a familiar face would pop up on the scoresheet in the guise of Messi, who capitalised on some neat footwork from Kylian Mbappe to bring the game level.<\/p>\n

The ball fell kindly to Messi in the Maccabi Haifa box before he poked home, and by doing so, the ageing superstar became the first player to find the back of the net against 39 different teams in Champions League, a new record for any player.<\/p>\n

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39 – Lionel Messi has become the first player to find the net against 39 different teams in UEFA Champions League, more than any other player in the competition (38 for Cristiano Ronaldo). Globetrotter. #MACPSG<\/a> #UEFAChampionsLeague2022<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fJQCVPtKqo<\/a><\/p>\n

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 14, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n