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Pelé paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Barcelona star equaled the Brazilian icon’s record of 643 goals for a single club during the Catalans’ 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday.
The Argentine, who sought to leave the club last summer in a very public dispute, reached the colossal total just before halftime at Camp Nou after he nodded home from complaining.
Messi, 33, had missed from the spot just earlier, but was in the right place to turn Jordi Alba’s handsome ball into the box to repair his unusual error from 12 yards.
And the goal is his 643rd for the LaLiga giants, the same total that three-time world champion Pelé scored for the Brazilian Santos during his 18 years at the club.
The 80-year-old has taken to Instagram to congratulate the Argentine superstar, reflecting on the feeling of ‘loving to wear the same shirt every day’.
“When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path,” he wrote. Like you, I know what it is to love to wear the same shirt every day. Like you, I know that 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 @fcbarcelona.
‘Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, will unfortunately be increasingly rare in football. I admire you a lot, @leomessi ‘.
It’s fair to say that Messi’s love for Barcelona may have waned over the past year, having endured a tumultuous feud with the club in the summer.
The 33-year-old tried to activate a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave for free, with Manchester City, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain eager to get the star.
However, Barcelona disputed the eligibility of the clause and, reluctant to take the battle to court, Messi chose to stay at the club for the 2020-21 season with Ronald Koeman.
However, Messi’s future remains uncertain, as his contract expires this summer. Barcelona’s presidential elections will take place early next year and it is hoped that the incumbent can help convince the best player in the club’s history to commit his future to the Catalans.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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