Messi sets new record

• February 15, 2012 16:57

With his goal against Bayer Leverkusen in Barca's 3-1 win early this morning, February 15, Messi made Champions League history by becoming the player who scored the most goals in knockout matches.

Messi controls the ball surrounded by Leverkusen defenders - Photo: Getty Images

Messi has scored 19 goals in total, one more than Raul and Andriy Shevchenko. At only 24 years old while Raul and Shevchenko are getting old, Messi promises to widen this gap.

Of his 19 goals, Messi has scored six times against Arsenal; twice against MU, Bayern Munich, Celtic, Stuttgart; once against Lyon, Shaktar Donestk and Bayer Leverkusen.

Overall in the Champions League - including group stage matches - Messi has scored 44 goals, ranking sixth in the list of top scorers. Topping the list is Raul (71 goals), followed by Nistelrooy (56 goals), Henry (55), Shevchenko (48) and Inzaghi (46). In this list, Ronaldo is in 10th place with only 31 goals.

This statistic shows that nearly half of Messi's goals in the Champions League have been scored in knockout matches. And this shows Messi's efficiency and ability to shine at decisive moments.

Meanwhile, of his total Champions League goals, Raul has scored less than 30% of them in the knockout stage.

According to Tuoi Tre