5 La Liga records that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi failed to break

Never in the history of any sport have two players dominated proceedings for as long as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The two legendary forwards have established a duopoly at the summit of football, a coalition that is still prevalent after 13 years. Even so, the best years of their eternal rivalry can comfortably trace their origins to a golden La Liga era of 2009 to 2018.

La Liga records that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi share

While the two 'goats' have an infinite number of records to their names, Ronaldo and Messi have had to share the spoils on more than one occasion. The Portuguese talisman famously equalled Ronaldo de Lima's record of most opponents scored against in a season in 2012. Just a year later, during the 2012-13 season, Lionel Messi went on to etch his name alongside his adversary by scoring against a whopping 19 teams.

Another record jointly held by the two footballing royalties is the title for most hat-tricks scored in a season. The fact that both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have scored eight hat-tricks in separate La Liga campaigns is a testament to their unparalleled pedigree. While the Argentine maestro got hold of this record in the 2011-12 season, Cristiano Ronaldo replicated it two years later, during the 2014-15 campaign.

With so many accolades to their name, it is almost impossible to ponder any record that the two mercurial forwards cannot break. Nevertheless, with both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo currently employed outside of La Liga, the duo have done precisely that.

With that notion on our minds, let's take a look at five La Liga records that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo failed to break:

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#5 Fastest goal in the league

Seydou Keita was a key figure under Pep Guradiola

Considering Lionel Messi's unconventional approach to the opposition's half, it often takes the Argentine a little while before he gets going. While the quality of his output remains second to none, the timing of his goals leaves much to be desired for.

In a completely opposite scenario, Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to have scored in every minute of the game. The seasoned poacher is adept at getting into goal-scoring positions, thereby explaining his unbelievable accomplishment.

Nevertheless, it is Seydou Keita who holds the record for the fastest La Liga goal to his name. A former teammate of Lionel Messi, Keita famously scored the quickest goal of all of the top five European leagues against Almeria in 2014. With his opening goal clocked at a mind-boggling 7.6 seconds, it will be a long time before someone comes even closer to breaking the said record.

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#4 Most consecutive hat-tricks in one season

A Real Oviedo player has this record to his name

While scoring more than a single goal is considered to be tough for the usual greats of the game, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo find it fairly simple. The two veterans have scored a hoard of hat-tricks in their illustrious careers, even gathering five strikes in a single game in certain instances.

Despite their goal-scoring heroics, the most impressive hat-trick streak that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have mustered in La Liga is two. While such an achievement is something in itself, there is a certain someone to have recorded a hat-trick of consecutive hat-tricks.

Real Oviedo's Isidro Langara famously scored a hat-trick in three consecutive La Liga matches in 1935, creating history along the way. Winner of the Pichichi trophy on three separate occasions, Langara is regarded as one of the most prolific goalscorers of the last century. Seemingly an unbreakable record, indeed.

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#3 Fastest hat-trick

Gameiro has scored the fastest hat-trick in La Liga

Continuing the hat-trick trend, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are famous for scoring an insane amount of goals. To put things in perspective, the duo have a combined hat-trick total of 112, equalling 336 goals. Despite the unfathomable count, neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo has been able to crack the record for the fastest hat-trick in La Liga.

France international Kevin Gameiro remains the proud holder of the accolade four years after claiming it. Playing for Atletico Madrid against Sporting Gijon, Gameiro netted three late goals in the span of 4 minutes and 43 seconds to etch his name in La Liga's history books. However, due to technical incapacities, such a list is not at all definitive.

Spanish legend David Villa was credited with this record prior to Gameiro's heroics, having scored a hat-trick in just 4 minutes and 47 seconds in 2006. Nevertheless, many still consider Bebeto's record of 1995 as the undisputed number one even without conclusive evidence. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both entering the twilight of their distinguished careers, they will have to make do with the insurmountable number of records they already have.

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#2 Most La Liga appearances

Andoni Zubizarreta unveiling Luis Suarez

While his enormous tally of 450 strikes for Real Madrid can be misleading for certain fans, Cristiano Ronaldo played fewer games for Los Blancos than he had goals. Therefore, his nine-year stay at the Bernabeu could only muster 292 La Liga appearances. Subsequently, Cristiano Ronaldo cannot realistically enter such a discussion.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lionel Messi has a lot more La Liga games under his belt. Having spent 16 years with Barcelona's senior squad, the Argentinian wizard is the leading non-Spanish appearance maker in La Liga with 520 top-flight matches.

Despite his prolonged stay, Lionel Messi still fell short of Andoni Zubizarreta's record of most La Liga appearances. Precisely, 100 matches short. 23 years after retiring from the beautiful game, Barcelona's legendary goalkeeper still holds the said title with a colossal 620 La Liga appearances.

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#1 Most goals in a single league match

Kubala's statue outside Camp Nou

Given their reputation as established goal-getters, such a record should've been a cakewalk for both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Nevertheless, an insane tally gathered by two legendary players of the past proved to be the Achilles' heel for the two superstars.

Barcelona's Lazio Kubala and Athletic Bilbao’s Agustin Sauto Arana still have the bragging rights to the record for most goals scored in a single La Liga match. While Kubala achieved the feat in 1952, burying seven past a clueless Sporting side, Arana did it in 1931 against none other than Lionel Messi's Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo came really close to equalling the said record in 2015, scoring five goals on two occasions against different opponents. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's highest tally in a single league game is four, one shy of Cristiano Ronaldo's count. Having departed La Liga, both stalwarts now have little to no chance of ever demolishing any of the stated records.

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