Messi marks his 700th game for Barcelona

BARCELONA: Argentine football player Lionel Messi has marked his 700th game for Barcelona by scoring his 613th goal.

Lionel Messi celebrated his anniversary in style by putting Barca two up before half-time Messi has provided 237 assists in his 700 club matches, taking his collective tally of goals and assists in that time to an astonishing 850.

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The Argentine, who has now scored 114 goals in the competition, was the catalyst for Barcelona’s best work throughout.

His deft pass released Luis Suarez for the opener, with Uruguay forward finding the bottom left corner of the Dortmund goal, moments after being caught offside when converting another Messi pass.

Messi doubled the hosts’ lead four minutes later, registering his 613th goal for the club, with a left-foot effort from eight yards.

Antoine Griezmann completed a comfortable evening for Ernesto Valverde’s side, with his rasping drive into the bottom right corner coming from another incisive Messi pass.

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England winger Jadon Sancho pulled a goal back for Dortmund, who are now third in Group-F behind Inter Milan on head-to-head record and face a battle to join Barca in the knockout stages.