KEY POINTS

  • PSG thrashed Maccabi Haifa 7-2 on Tuesday
  • Mbappe and Messi scored 2 goals each, with the latter even assisting 2 goals
  • Since his Champions League debut, Messi has scored 23 goals from outside the box

Lionel Messi on Tuesday claimed a special feat in the Champions League as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) thrashed Maccabi Haifa 7-2.

Messi netted a brace and assisted two more goals in PSG's incredible win over the Israeli club in their Group H game at Parc des Princes. Aged 35 years and 123 days, Messi became the oldest player in Champions League history to both score twice and assist twice in a game, according to Opta Joe.

Messi opened the scoring against Maccabi Haifa with his 19th-minute strike before Kylian Mbappe doubled the hosts' lead in the 32nd minute. Two minutes later, Neymar made it 3-0 for PSG. Spanish midfielder Carlos Soler also scored while Haifa's Shon Goldberg scored an own goal. Messi assisted Neymar and Soler's goals.

Maccabi Haifa's Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Seck, meanwhile, netted two consolation goals for his side.

Since Messi's Champions League debut in 2004-05, the Argentine forward has netted more goals from outside the box than any other player in the tournament – 23, one more than rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The latter is not even competing in the said top European competition this season.

With little less than a month left for the FIFA World Cup 2022 to kickstart in Qatar, Messi is in excellent form. The 35-year-old forward is the only player to score 10+ goals and deliver 10+ assists in all competitions among players in the Top 5 European leagues this season.

Messi, who is into his second season at PSG, has netted 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 16 competitive matches for the Ligue 1 club this campaign.

Lionel Messi and Neymar were among the goals, and Kylian Mbappe also scored twice, as PSG beat Maccabi Haifa 7-2
AFP

There is another player who has made Messi-like contributions this season – Cody Gakpo, but the forward plays PSV Eindhoven, which competes in Eredivisie. The Netherlands-based league is ranked six-best in Europe.

In 20 appearances in all competitions, the 23-year-old Gakpo has netted 13 goals and as many assists for PSV Eindhoven.

Meanwhile, the duo of Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski have been on another level in terms of scoring, but neither of the strikers has managed to set up as many goals.

Haaland has netted an incredible 22 goals in 16 competitive matches for Manchester City this season, but the Norwegian star has made only three assists.

Lewandowksi, on the other hand, scored 17 goals in 15 matches for FC Barcelona in all competitions but has made just four assists so far.

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