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Lionel Messi’s header was his 450th La Liga goal, in his 498th La Liga appearance with Barcelona
Lionel Messi equaled Brazilian legend Pelé’s record of 643 goals with a single club by scoring for Barcelona in Saturday’s draw against Valencia.
The 33-year-old Argentine managed the feat with a diving header just before half-time, immediately after his penalty was saved by goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.
Messi scored his first goal for Barça in 2005 against Albacete.
Pelé scored 643 goals in 19 seasons with Brazilian Santos between 1956 and 1974.
Sadly for Messi, his celebrations will likely be muted after Barcelona failed to beat their opponents in the middle of the table.
The result leaves the 26-time league champion fifth, eight points behind Atlético de Madrid, which previously beat Elche 3-1 to go to 29 points.
Fierce rivals and champions, Real Madrid, five points ahead of Barça, play Eibar on Sunday.
This should have been Barcelona’s third win in the league, having led 2-1 in the second half and going strong as the match progressed.
They received an almighty jolt in the 29th minute when defender Mouctar Diakhaby gave the visitors the lead when he headed from a corner after going unmarked.
Valencia had defended well up to that point and felt aggrieved that Barcelona received a penalty just before the break, when José Gaya was judged to have pushed Antoine Griezmann into the area.
After referee Alejandro Hernández confirmed the foul after a review by the court monitor, Messi stepped forward for what should be his historic moment. However, Domenech made a brilliant save only for the Argentine to then head at the far post seconds later.
Barcelona were on top for much of the second half and penetrated the last line of defense once more as Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo launched an extravagant scissor kick that surpassed Domenech’s reach.
Ronald Koeman’s men were desperate to end the match with another goal, but when they pressed they were caught by a Valencia counterattack, which resulted in the deadly Maxi Gomez poking out of the far post.
The 24-year-old Uruguayan forward has already participated in at least one goal in six of his seven La Liga games against Barcelona.
Former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho came in with an angled shot 12 minutes from time, but that was the closest Barca came to scoring again in the later stages.
