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Brazilian soccer great Pelé paid tribute to Lionel Messi for equaling his record for goals with just one club after the Argentine forward scored his 643 goal for Barcelona in Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Valencia.
Messi, 33, marked the milestone with a diving header just before halftime, immediately after his penalty was blocked by Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.
Messi, who made his first appearance for Barcelona at age 17 in 2004, needed 748 matches to score 643 goals, while Pelé made the tally in 665 competitive matches for Santos.
“When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path.
“Like you, I know what it is to love to wear the same jersey every day,” wrote on Instagram Pelé, the only player to win the World Cup three times.
“Like you, I know there is nothing better than the place where we feel at home.
“Congratulations on your historical record, Lionel. But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona.
Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, will sadly become increasingly rare in football.
“I admire you a lot.”
Pelé, now 80, made his Santos debut at age 15 in 1956 and left in 1974 after winning six Brazilian league titles plus two Copa Libertadores crowns, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
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