Messi brace seals CL goals record

Two Lionel Messi goals either side of half-time in Amsterdam on Wednesday propelled Barcelona past Ajax and into the knockout phases of the Champions League.

Messi also equaled the all-time Champions League scoring record held by Real Madrid stalwart Raul, moving up to 71 career goals in the competition.

The 27-year-old, also Barcelona's all-time top scorer, and Argentina's second in line, may not be able to keep a stranglehold on the record, however. It seems only a matter of time (perhaps two weeks) until Messi nets his 72nd and moves clear of Raul, but 29-year-old Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is hovering on 70 Champions League goals. The Portuguese star, reigning World Player of the Year, was the competition's top scorer last season.

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo perpetually dominate the Spanish scoring charts, not to mention the annual international votes for the world's best footballer. Playing for two of Europe's best sides, and still both south of 30, it's fair to assume both will score dozens more in the competition. By comparison, Raul was nearly 34 when he scored his last Champions League goal for Schalke.

Unusually, neither of Messi's Wednesday goals came from his trusty left instep. The first was a neat header, and the second a sliding poked finish from close in, following some excellent interplay with Pedro.

Messi's 71 Champions League goals come from just 90 appearances in the competition, Ronaldo currently has 70 from 107 matches, Raul appeared in 142 games in Europe's top competition. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry make up the top five.

The Champions League was given its current name - and a format vaguely reminiscent of the one used today - in the 1992/3 season.

msh/av (AFP, AP)