Lionel Messi became the Champions League’s all-time record goal scorer on Tuesday night. His hat-trick helped Barca beat APOEL Nicosia 4-0 in Group F and took his competition tally to 74 goals.
At just 27-years-old he is now highest ever scorer in the history of Barcelona, the European Cup and La Liga. The Argentine has now scored a record 368 goals for his club, a record 253 in La Liga, a landmark he reached on Saturday with a another hat-trick against Sevilla, and 74 in Europe’s top club competition.
Paris Saint Germain who had also already qualified for the last 16 beat Ajax 3-1 thanks to a brace by Edison Cavani and one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
In Group E Sergio Aguero also scored three as he dragged Manchester City from behind to beat a ten-man Bayern Munich 3-2. Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski scored for qualified Bayern.
City’s chances of progressing to the last 16 received a major boost – they are now second in the Group ahead of Roma and CSKA Moscow who drew 1-1 in Russia.
Chelsea qualified for the knockout phase with one game spare. The Blue’s ruthlessly brushed aside former coach Roberto Di Matteo’s Schalke. John Terry, Willian, Didier Drogba and Ramires all added to an own goal by Jan Kirchhoff to send Jose Mourinho’s men through from Group G. Elsewhere Sporting beat Maribor to move into second.
FC Porto beat BATE Borisov 3-0 to make sure they advance to the knockout phase as Group G winners. Hector Herrera, Jackson Martinez and Cristian Tello were all on target for the Portuguese side in Belarus. Porto’s win also ensured Shakhtar Donetsk join them in the last 16 as Group runners-up despite the Ukrainians losing one nil to Athletic Bilbao.
