Lionel Messi breaks Xavi’s single-season La Liga assists record

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi finished the La Liga campaign by setting a new single-season assists record.

It seems like in every season, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi manages to set a new record and add to an already stout career resume. In the recently completed La Liga campaign, he managed to do just that.

The Argentine forward set a new La Liga record for most assists in a season with 21, passing that of former teammate Xavi Hernandez’s 20 back in the 2008-2009 campaign. Messi notched the new career milestone in the final game of the league season against Deportivo Alaves. With the team eager for a first-half goal, Messi dropped in an aerial ball into the box. Ansu Fati made the off-ball run to slot the ball into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead and Messi’s new assist record.

The record was all made possible by Messi’s playmaking run after play resumed following the lengthy coronavirus shutdown. He notched nine assists over the team’s final 11 games of the season, including a double of assists in the away league fixture against Villarreal.

Overall, Messi’s 21 assists tied that of FC Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller for the most among all players in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

Lionel Messi adds another La Liga career milestone

The assists record is not the only career feat that Messi achieved in La Liga this past season. He also clinched his seventh career Pichichi Trophy, which is awarded to the top goal-scorer in Spain’s top flight. Messi scored 25 goals in league play, which is down from what he usually posts over a season but the figure is just enough to yet again finish at the top of the leaderboard in goals scored.

Messi also breaks a tie with former Athletic Bilbao forward Telmo Zarra for the most Pichichi Trophy wins in La Liga history.

With the 25 goals and 21 assists, Messi finished the season leading all players in total goals contributed.

All of the focus for Messi and Barcelona now shifts towards the UEFA Champions League knockout stage where they will finish off its Round of 16 tie against Serie A side Napoli next month.