Lionel Messi Makes History as Barcelona Gets Past Slavia Prague in UEFA Champions League

Lionel Messi has one more record to his name after he scored inside the first three minutes against the UEFA Champions League match against Slavia Prague on Wednesday.

He became the first player to score in the Champions League for 15 consecutive seasons, and also matched Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid great Raul to have scored against 33 different opponents in the champions league.

After scripting some more history with his feet, Messi found praise from the Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde who said that he was getting even better.

“He’s the player who can decide any game. Every day we see him he’s even better,” Valverde said.  “One more record for the incredible Leo. They are easy to say, it seems natural, but it is very difficult to achieve.”

Messi also found praise from his teammate Sergio Busquets. “He’s had a tough start to the season because of injuries. He’s fundamental to the way we play and a lot goes through him,” Busquets said.

“He’s getting his rhythm back but it won’t take him long because he’s the best in the world.” 

After Messi’s goal in the third minute, it did not prove to be as comfortable for Barcelona as they might have thought with Slavia Prague equalling the score early in the second half. It wasnot without a slice of luck that they managed a second goal- which came in from a Luis Suarez effort that was deflected.

Talking about it after the match, Valverde said: “These games, you have to know how to play them. We have lacked peace of mind in the opposite field. I think we had clearer chances than they did. 

“You always want to rule the matches from minute one to 90. Today we had to suffer, from time to time we must suffer. There are times when you will have to go down to the mud and defend certain situations.”