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Since making his debut in 2005, Lionel Messi has mesmerised, awestruck and brought joy to not only Barcelona and Argentina fans, but even rival fans - such has been the impact that he has had on the game.
The little Argentinian has been an integral part of one of the greatest football teams of all-time, moulded by coach Pep Guardiola. Messi has helped - sometimes singlehandedly - his club side Barcelona to numerous trophies and created new records that may never be broken.
His rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest in football - nay any sport - and those that have watched the two duel it out week after week, competition after competition, will remember it for eternity.
Also Read: 5 records that Cristiano Ronaldo can break or equal by the end of 2018-19 season
The duo have also bettered each other and pushed each other to go where no footballer has gone before - breaking records, making new ones, and wowing every football fan.
Going into the 2018-19 season, here are a few records that Lionel Messi could break at the end of the season.
#1 Most hat-tricks in La Liga - 35
In his 14 seasons for Barcelona, Lionel Messi has scored an incredible 40 hat-tricks in all competitions for the Catalan club. His first hat-trick couldn't have come at a better time and opposition: Real Madrid. Barcelona were trailing thrice and the Argentine equalised each time to end the game with scores 3-3.
But in La Liga, it isn't Messi who has the most hat-tricks, but his arch nemesis, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 34 hat-tricks in the league for Real Madrid.
Messi, currently, stands on 30 hat-tricks in the league, and it wouldn't be impossible for the little magician to score five or more hat-tricks in a season to better Ronaldo's record. For the naysayers who feel that scoring five or more hat-tricks in a season is an impossible task, Messi did so previously, in the 2011–12, where he scored 8 hat-tricks in a single La Liga season!
#2 Most El Clasico appearances - 44
Messi is currently six appearances (38) behind Real Madrid's Manuel Sanchís, who has 43 appearances in the fiercely-contested El Clasico derby between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Messi and Barcelona are set to play against each other at least twice - two games in La Liga - but the two could face off twice in the Champions League and Copa del Rey, too.
The Barcelona player with the most appearances in El Clasicos is Xavi, who appeared in 42 matches.
#3 Most Copa del Rey wins (equal) - 7
Lionel Messi has an outstanding record in Spain's cup competition, Copa del Rey. He has won the competition 6 times, the most by any Barcelona, alongside his team-mates Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, and Gerard Pique who've also won it six times.
He is one goal shy of equalling the record for most Copa del Rey titles, which is currently held by Agustín Gaínza, who won 7 Spanish Cups in the 40s and 50s while playing for Athletic Bilbao.
#4 Most appearances in Copa del Rey final (equal) - 9
Lionel Messi really loves the Copa del Rey and holds many records in the competition. Messi has scored in five finals and is the joint-holder for scoring in the most number of Copa del Rey finals, while he has provided six assists in finals, which is a record.
But, in the upcoming season, Messi could equal another incredible record: most appearances in Copa del Rey final. Messi has won six Copa del Rey titles with Barcelona and has been on the losing side twice.
If he and Barcelona reach another final next season, he will tie with that man again, Agustín Gaínza, for most appearances in a Copa del Rey final, which is 9. Barcelona have four Copa del Rey titles on the trot; could they make it 5 and help the little Argentine create another record?
#5 Most Pichichi Trophies (equal) - 6
The Pichichi trophy is awarded to the most prolific goalscorer in La Liga. Lionel Messi, unsurprisingly, has won the award five times, one shy of the most Pichichi trophies which is held by Telmo Zarra, who played in the 40s and 50s, and won his last Pichichi in 1953!
Messi is now tied with Alfredo Di Stéfano and Quini on five Pichichi trophies, and with no signs of the Argentine slowing down (he won the last two Pichichi trophies), Messi could equal another record!
#6 Most Ballon d'Ors - 6
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance of world football in the last decade can be highlighted by the Ballon d'Ors that the two have won between them. The duo have won the last 10 (yes, 10!) Ballon d'Ors, with Kaka being the last one apart from the two goalscoring machines to win it, way back in 2007.
The arch-rivals have five apiece, and with both winning trophies in the season gone by (Ronaldo won the Champions League, while Messi won La Liga and Copa del Rey), it is going to be a close-run thing.
What will sway in one player's favour is how well they do in the World Cup; whoever takes their team the farthest (or wins it) will probably be crowned the Ballon d'Or.
