Messi one goal shy of Pelé's South American record
Leo Messi is just one goal away from matching Pelé to become the highest goalscorer ever for a South American country. The Brazilian legend scored 77 international goals, but the Barça star needs just one more to equal that tally, and he could do just that in the Copa America final against Brazil (Sunday (Monday morning 2.00am CEST)).
Messi is the leading goalscorer in the tournament so far with four goals.
Next on the list of top scorers in South America are two former colleagues of his, Neymar (Brazil, 68) and Luis Suárez (Uruguay, 63).
This comes just a few days after Messi beat yet other former Barça team mate, Javier Mascherano, to become the most capped player of all time for Argentina.
And his 644th goal for Barça, converted against Valladolid last season, beat another Pelé record, the one for scoring the most goals for a single club.
It’s been another record-breaking campaign for the GOAT, who also became the player with the most appearances of all-time for FC Barcelona when he surpassed Xavi Hernández’s 767 in the game with Real Sociedad.