Zimpapers Logo

LONDON. — Lionel Messi has become the first player to score against 40 different teams in the Champions League football, thanks to his goal against Benfica on Wednesday night.

Though Paris Saint-Germain could only muster a 1-1 draw against the Portuguese side, Messi’s sublime strike in the 22nd minute allowed him to achieve the remarkable feat.

The Argentine forward already held the record for scoring against the most different number of clubs in the competition, with Cristiano Ronaldo a close second on 38.

Ronaldo still leads the way with the most Champions League goals, with 140 to Messi’s 127, but is currently unable to add to his tally with Manchester United stuck in the Europa League. As for which club Messi loves to score against the most in the UCL, that would be Arsenal with the 35-year-old scoring nine goals against the Gunners to date, with eight-a-piece against Celtic and AC Milan.

As for the other British clubs, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has netted seven against Manchester City, four against Manchester United, three against Chelsea, two against Liverpool and Tottenham, and one against Rangers.

After a somewhat underwhelming debut season with PSG, Messi has started this campaign in fine form, scoring eight and assisting eight in just 13 games across all competitions, with the French giants yet to lose a match.

Messi has finished as the Champions League’s top-goalscorer on six occasions, most recently in the 2018/19 season, however he faces a tough battle for this campaign’s golden boot.

After three gameweeks, Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland leads the way with five goals, with Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane on four, while Messi is lagging behind on two. — Metro.