Lionel Messi has now scored at least 50 goals for club and country in nine of the last ten years.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner scored an archetypal gorgeous goal in the 4-1 win over Alaves, curling home a beautiful strike from 25 yards out despite being closed down by five defenders.
It was the perfect way for him to reach a half century of goals in 2019.
And thanks to his latest bit of magic, the Argentine has ensured he's hit 50 goals for six consecutive years on the trot - which is an absolutely absurd goalscoring return.
Just look at some of those numbers. Only once, in 2013, did he fail to reach 50 goals in a calendar year and even then he was only five away from doing so.
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There was a time where most forwards would settle for 20-30 goals in a season it was previously viewed as a fine return, yet Messi has entered a whole new stratosphere with his numbers and made other top strikers look ordinary.
That 2012 tally is just offensive to anybody else. With an insane 91 goals and 29 assists for club and country, he broke the previous record set by Gerd Muller 40 years prior as he conjured up the greatest year ever seen from a footballer.
Another breathtaking year from the best ever player to play football. Here's looking forward to plenty more Messi madness in 2020.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi
