Incredible Lionel Messi Records That May Never Be Broken.

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Lionel Messi, a phenomenon, a magician, the greatest. The 36-year-old Argentine has just won his eighth Ballon d'Or, three more than any other player and continues to set records that may never be broken.

Messi guided Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December before ending his 20-year career in European football with Barcelona to join Major League Soccer franchise Inter Miami in America in July.

As he continues to shine - for club and country - we look at some of the milestones and records Messi has set over the years.

a) Most Ballon d'Or awards - 8

It was no surprise when Messi was announced as the men's Ballon d'Or winner, the award for the best footballer in the world for the 2022-23 season.

His inspirational role in helping Argentina win the World Cup for the first time since 1986 almost guaranteed he would extend his record of award wins to eight - despite the best efforts of prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

Cristiano Ronaldo, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, is Messi's closest rival with five, but, aged 38 and not even nominated in the 30-man shortlist, it is hard to see the Portugal forward challenging Messi's haul.

b) Most goals in a La Liga season - 50

It is impossible to say when this impressive scoring feat will be broken, but history suggests it might be some time.

Messi's 50 goals in 37 appearances for Barcelona in 2011-12 is not only a La Liga record, but it is also the most in a season by any player in one of Europe's top five leagues since the formation of the Premier League in 1992-93.

Since La Liga's formation in 1929, only three players have even hit 40 goals. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo managed it twice and Luis Suarez did so seven years ago - the last time the mark was reached.

c) Most goals in all competitions in a season - 73

This tally seems insurmountable.

In that record-breaking 2011-12 season Messi scored 73 goals in all competitions for Barcelona and no-one has got close since.

Haaland broke all sorts of records in his debut Premier League campaign last season, but, despite seemingly scoring every week, he finished the season with 52 goals - 21 short of Messi's phenomenal effort.

d) Most Champions League goals for one club - 120

Messi looks like falling short of the record as Champions League top scorer. He is in second - 11 goals short of Cristiano Ronaldo's 140 - with both probably having played their last game in the competition.

But Messi's 120 goals for Barcelona is the most a player has scored for one club in the competition.

e) Most Argentina caps - 175 and counting

Surpassing Javier Mascherano as Argentina's most-capped player in 2021, Messi now sits on 175 caps at the time of writing, which is incredible longevity for somebody who has been breaking defenders' ankles for years at this point.

What's even scarier is that he still hasn't retired from international football even after carrying the national team to victory in the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Copa America.

f) Most European Golden Shoes - 6

Awarded to the leading goal scorer in Europe's top divisions, Messi of course, has a trophy cabinet full of European Golden Shoes, as if he's got a collection going on.

All six of them were won at Barcelona, the last three of which were all won back to back from 2016 to 2019.

g) Most club honours - 37

Nobody can ever accuse Messi of being a stat-padding merchant, because he's always made sure his contributions are the type that are dragging his teams to trophies.

Clinching Ligue 1 for the second year in a rowwith Paris Saint-Germain in 2022-23 added to an obscene silverware haul that took place during his unforgettable spell at Barcelona.

h) Most goals for Argentina - 106

Messi is Argentina's record scorer by a country mile - and he is still going.

In an international career that started in 2005, he has scored 48 more goals than previous record holder Gabriel Batistuta and 63 more than third-placed Sergio Aguero.

With Messi still adding to his tally and his two closest rivals retired, it is going to be a long time - if ever - before anyone gets close to his Argentina record.

i) Most goals for one singular club - 672

Leaving Barcelona was always going to be emotional, but leaving under the circumstances he did made matters a lot worse. Messi's spell in Catalonia was perhaps the best spell from a player at any club ever.

You can't disagree really, either. 672 goals is simply insane. Nobody is coming close to that for one club ever again.

j) Most La Liga hat-tricks - 36

For many players - even strikers - scoring one or two career hat-tricks is a luxury that one won't ever forget. Messi can't even remember half of the hat tricks he's scored, for some perspective.

Seriously, 36 times he's put at least three goals past one team in La Liga. That's ridiculous. If he didn't have to move on, there's no doubt in our minds he could've reached 40 for Barça.

k) Most goals in a calendar year - 91

Nine goals away from scoring 100 goals within a 365-day period. That is truly an unbeatable number.

Producing the mesmerizing feat in 2012, nobody has come close to Messi's 91-goal year since. Still sitting in second place is Gerd Muller, who scored 85 goals in 1972. If that doesn't tell you just how freakish a scoring run that was from Messi, nothing will.

l) Most La Liga assists - 192

Playing in a team with some of the greatest midfielders ever in Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Messi of course, outshone Barcelona's chief creators while also outscoring everyone in his path.

Xavi retired with 129 La Liga assists, which is still a considerable way off Messi's 192, giving you all the context you need to realise how nauseatingly high that number is.