Lionel Messi scored the only goal as Barcelona clinched the La Liga title by defeating Levante on Saturday night.
Fittingly it was the Argentina international who came off the bench to seal their glory with three games to spare and he now becomes a La Liga winner for the 10th occasion in his incredible career - the most ever for a Barcelona player, eclipsing the great Andreas Iniesta by one.
The Catalan giants can now celebrate becoming Spanish champions for the 26th time in their history and for the eighth season out of the last 11, although amazingly it was the first since 2010 they had clinched it at the Nou Camp.
⚽️🙌 Fittingly it was Lionel Messi who scored the goal to seal...
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC)
2⃣6⃣ Barcelona's 26th La Liga title
8⃣ Their eighth in 11 seasons
🔟 His club-record 10th!
🐐🔵🔴
Barcelona hold a nine point lead over Atletico Madrid with a vastly superior goal difference while their fierce rivals Real Madrid are a further nine behind.
They remain on track for a third treble since 2009 with the Copa del Rey final against Valencia next month.
It was far from straightforward against opponents who belied their position just three points clear of the relegation zone with a bold display which could, and probably should, have earned them a point.
But Messi, rested for the first half as coach Ernesto Valverde had one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool, scored his 34th league goal of the season - and his 598th in his 682nd Barcelona game, to get the party started.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC)
🔟 Lionel Messi's 10 La Liga titles is the most any Barcelona player has managed in history, eclipsing the legendary Andres Iniesta by one!
🐐
🔟🏆
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC)
🙌��🔴 Lionel Messi lifts the La Liga title for a Barcelona club record 10th time!
He is now two behind his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of club goals after the former Real Madrid star got his 600th in his 801st game earlier in the evening, but it won't be too long before he too reaches that staggering milestone.
👏 What an hour for Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fans!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC)
⏱️ 8.50pm
6⃣0⃣0⃣ Ronaldo scores his 600th club goal
⏱️ 9.35pm
🔟🏆 Lionel Messi scores his 598th to win his 10th La Liga!
🗳️ VOTE! As good an excuse as ever to ask 'that' question again...
Lionel Messi's club honours
- La Liga titles: 10
- Copa del Rey: 6
- Spanish Supercup: 7
- Champions League: 4
- UEFA Super Cup: 3
- FIFA Club World Cup: 3
Lionel Messi's club goals record
- Games: 682
- Goals: 598
- League: 416
- Champions League: 110
- Other cups: 71
- Hat-Tricks: 45
- Penalties: 70
- Assists: 231
Lionel Messi's goals record including internationals
- Games: 811 (682 club)
- Goals: 663 (578 club)
- Assists: 271 (231 club)
- Hat-Tricks: 51 (45 club)
- Penalties: 83 (70 club)
Lionel Messi's international honours
- Fifa U-20 World Cup: 1 (2005)
- Olympic Gold Medal: 1 (2008)
Lionel Messi major awards
- Ballon d’Or: 5 (2015, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
- Golden Shoe: 5 (2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18)
