Lionel Messi Scored the 500th Goal of His Career in Barcelona's 7-0 Win over Valencia

Lionel Messi just hit another milestone.

Barcelona's demolition of Valencia last may have been a horror show for Gary Neville on the sidelines but for neutrals, it was just another chance to marvel at the brilliance of Lionel Messi.

Both Messi and Luis Suarez scored hat-tricks in the Copa Del Rey semi-final encounter but it was Messi's second strike that was arguably the best goal of the night and the most significant.

After receving the ball from a Luis Suarez backheel, Messi jinked around two Valencia defenders before guiding the ball home in trademark style for the 500th time in his professional career.

Arsenal face Messi, Suarez and the rest of Barcelona on February 23rd.

Messi's tally includes the 16 goals he scored for Argentina's U20 and U23 national teams.

Only another 700 to go before he catches up with Pele's tally of 1,283 goals...although that total famously includes 526 goals from exhibition games and fixtures at such a low level the goals can never be verified.

[via Bleacher Report]

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