'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) superstar Lionel Messi broke Cristiano Ronaldo 's record of scoring against 38 different teams in the Champions League. The former has now scored against 39 teams.
Messi's goal against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday (September 14) meant he is now the player to have scored against the most number of distinct teams in the competition's history.
The Argentine equalized in the 37th minute of his team's game against Maccabi Haifa during their away trip to Israel.
Maccabi Haifa took the lead in the 24th minute of the game courtesy of a sumptuous finish from Tjaronn Chery. However, Messi put the Parisians level after 13 minutes after some crafty build-up play with Kylian Mbappe.
Messi set up the second for Mbappe as he split the hosts' defense with a through ball for the former AS Monaco forward. The Frenchman found the back of the net as slotted the ball home with his first touch in the 69th minute.
Neymar Jr. skillfully converted a delightful lob pass from Marco Verratti in the dying minutes to seal the Parisians' second straight win. They came into the contest on the back of a 2-1 home win against Juventus on the opening matchday of the Champions League. PSG are now top of Group H courtesy of six points and more goals scored
On a triumphant night for PSG, Messi rewrote the record books as he also broke another record. He scored for the 18th successive season in the Champions League, yet another competition record.
Lionel Messi has now scored 126 goals in the UEFA Champions League. He is only behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time list of top scorers in the competition.
The Portuguese legend has 140 goals in the Champions League. However, he is not playing in this year's competition as Manchester United are contesting in the Europa League due to their sixth place finish in the Premier League last season.
Thomes Muller chooses between PSG star Lionel Messi and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo
Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller recently picked Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of PSG star Lionel Messi in the eternal debate of who is better.
The German attacker reasoned his pick on the fact that he has a good record against teams with Messi. However, he has found it hard against teams with Ronaldo. He said (quoted by utdreport):
"I go for Ronaldo. Against Messi I have a good statistic, against Ronaldo, not that good."
Muller's Bayern demolished Messi's Barca 8-2 in the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-finals while Ronaldo scored a hat-trick against the Bavarians in the 2017 UCL quarter-final second leg.
