Messi breaks Koeman's Barcelona free-kick record

Lionel Messi became the most prolific free-kick goalscorer in the history of Barcelona on Saturday, with 27 such goals.

Published : Feb 05, 2017 12:27 IST

Lionel Messi celebrates record-breaking strike against Athletic Bilbao.
Lionel Messi celebrates record-breaking strike against Athletic Bilbao.
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Lionel Messi celebrates record-breaking strike against Athletic Bilbao.

Lionel Messi broke yet another Barcelona record on Saturday, becoming the most prolific free-kick goalscorer in the history of the club - surpassing Ronald Koeman's 26 set-piece strikes.

Barcelona already led 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao through Paco Alcacer when five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi stepped up to take a set-piece from close to the byline on the right of the penalty area. The Argentine's low shot was on target but Gorka Iraizoz should have kept it out after getting a hand to the effort, the Athletic goalkeeper's failure to do so handing Messi a club record 27th free-kick goal for Barcelona.

Messi had drawn level with Koeman's mark with another free-kick special against Athletic in the Copa Del Rey in January that made it three set-piece goals in three games for the forward, leading the Everton manager to congratulate Messi on social media.

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