5 Reasons why Lionel Messi is the Greatest Of All Time

#5. Constantly redefining footballing benchmarks

Top Goalscored in Barcelona history (500).

Top Goalscorer in La Liga history (341)

Top Goalscorer in El Clásico (23)

Top Assist Provider in La Liga history (136)

Top Goalscorer in a La Liga season (50 – seriously, FIFTY)

Top Goalscorer in a calender year (91 – seriously, NINETY-ONE)

Most La Liga Best Player awards (6)

Argentina all-time top goalscorer (58)

First player to be top scorer in five UEFA Champions League seasons (4 of them consecutively)

Most hattricks scored in the Champions League (7)

Most goals scored in a Champions League match (5)

All-time top assist provider in Copa América (11)

Only player to score consecutively against all opposition teams in La Liga: (19 matches, 30 goals in 2012–13)

The little magician has redefined numbers, stats, and the way we look at football. There is no magic left in a hattrick (oh he scored one did he? Leo already has five), there is no awe-factor in a twenty--five goal season (the last time he dipped below 25 league goals a season is in 2008-09).

The statistical benchmark for shock, awe and magic have been set higher and higher and higher every single season. So when your child, or grandchild, comes up to you some fifty years from now and extols the brilliance of a player who’s scored thirty goals a season, or has scored a couple of hattricks in quick succession and you’ll can muster up in response is “Meh, I saw all this and more 50 years ago”.... you know who to blame.

P.S. For those on the other side of the debate: 5 Reasons why Cristiano Ronaldo is the Greatest Footballer of All Time