Lionel Messi is first player to score in 16 straight Champions League seasons

Lionel Messi achieved another record in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, when Barcelona beat Ferencvaros 5-1.

The Argentine star’s goal against Ferencvaros made him achieve a feat no other player has in the Champions League as yet.

The 33-year-old became the first player to score in 16 straight Champions League seasons Tuesday night.

Messi is only the second player to score in 16 Champions League seasons overall, joining Manchester United Ryan Giggs in reaching the feat.

Meanwhile, Barcelona stretched their unbeaten run at the Nou Camp in the Champions League to 37 games (W33 D4); they haven’t conceded more than once in any of the 37 games in this run.

Other fan facts in the Barce game against Ferencvaros are as follows;

• Since winning their first Champions League match against Grasshopper Club Zürich in September 1995, Ferencváros are winless in six in the competition (D2 L4), conceding 24 goals in this time.
• Barcelona have won their opening home game in 23 of their 25 Champions League seasons (D2), including each of their last nine in a row since a 2-2 draw with Milan in 2011-12.
• Fati has scored four goals in five appearances in all competitions this season, the most of any player for Barcelona in 2020-21.
• Fati is the first player ever to score more than one Champions League goal before turning 18. Indeed, Barcelona became the first team ever to have two goalscorers aged 17 or under in a single Champions League match (Ansu Fati and Pedri).
• Gerard Pique received his second red card in 117 Champions League appearances and his first since October 2017 against Olympiakos.
• Three of Ferencvaros’ 10 Champions League goals have been penalties (30%) – the highest proportion of any club with 10 or more goals in the competition’s history.