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BARCELONA. — With a fifth world player of the year award safely tucked away in the trophy cabinet, Lionel Messi can set his sights on one of the next milestones in his remarkable career: reaching 500 goals for club and country.

The Barcelona and Argentina forward can add to his jaw-dropping tally of 479 in 609 official games – 430 for Barca and 49 for his national team – in Sunday’s Spanish La Liga match at home to Athletic Bilbao.

The 28-year-old from Rosario, who picked up the FIFA Ballon d’Or on Monday, is looking close to his best following a two-month injury layoff late last year and netted a hat-trick when second-placed Barca crushed Granada 4-0 at the Nou Camp last weekend in their most recent outing in Spain’s top flight. — Reuters.