Lionel Messi gives you magic and goals. Always. The Argentine has beens scoring goals aplenty throughout his career. Continuing his hot streak in front of the goal, Messi scored against Alaves in La Liga to record his 50th goal of the calendar year for club and country.?
It marked 6th consecutive year when the Barcelona striker has scored 50 or more goals in a year and also the 9th time when he has achieved the feat.?
Despite injury troubles at the start of the season, Messi seems to have returned to his goalscoring best, having scored what was his 13th goal in the Spanish top-flight this season. Messi also occupies the top spot in goalscoring charts in La Liga this term, ahead of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (12) and Suarez (10).?
Messi bagged his only and Barcelona's third goal of the game as he picked up the ball 20 yards from the goal. He managed to fend off pressure from as many as six surrounding players before putting the ball past Alaves goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.??
It was the magic we are so accustomed to seeing Messi produce and he went on to score a belter to give Barcelona a two-goal cushion.?
It was Barcelona's last fixture of the year, with their next match being away to Espanyol on January 04.The win keeps Barcelona at the top of the table, with 39 points. Real Madrid are second with 36 points but have a game in hand.?