Messi equals La Liga scoring record

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – Lionel Messi has equalled the Spanish football league’s all-time scoring record with 251 goals after scoring for Barcelona against Sevilla today.

Messi curled home an elegant free kick to give Barcelona a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute at Camp Nou Stadium.

Messi’s latest scoring feat comes after he equalled Raul Gonzalez as the Champions League all-time scorer with 71 goals earlier this month.

Athletic Bilbao great Telmo Zarra set the Liga milestone in 271 games from 1940-55.

The 27-year-old Messi needed 289 games to reach the same mark that had gone untouched for nearly 60 years.

Messi is Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 364 goals.