Messi records 500th Barcelona win in Copa victory

The Argentine helped Barcelona to a triumphant victory over Leganes in the Copa del Rey, leaving an unprecedented record in the process.

Lionel Messi has become the first player in Spanish football history to achieve 500 wins in a single team, after Barcelona won 5-0 against Leganes in the King’s Cup.

Messi did not play with Barca in their difficult 32nd round win over Ibiza last week, but Setien started with the six-time Ballon d’Or winner in the District 16 match on Thursday.

Goals from Antoine Greizmann and Clement Lenglet gave Blaugrana a quiet lead in the first leg at Camp Nou after a disappointing La Liga clash against Valencia on Saturday where they lost 2-0.

Messi scored the third goal after a deviation a few minutes before half-time, before Arthur scored in the 77th minute.

Barca’s Maestro, the Argentine, also scored a beautiful goal in the final minutes, as he had the goalkeeper from Legana.

That result made Messi reach his 500th victory with the Barca jersey – the most wins ever recorded by a single player in Spanish football.

To achieve this he has had to play 710 games and he can achieve even more if he continues with such performances at the Camp Nou.

Barça have now secured the quarter-finals in the King’s Cup alongside Real Madrid, Granada, Villarreal and Real Sociedad and tomorrow will be the draw for the quarter-finals.

Messi’s last two goals were the 20th goal in all competitions this season and he will have an opportunity to score again for Barca, who hosts Levant at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Setien’s players are three points behind Real Madrid at the top of La Liga after their defeat to Mestalla, but the third title in a row could still come as there are still games to play.