Lionel Messi Surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo In A Special Champions League Record: Details

Lionel Messi has surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo in a special Champions League record.

Messi achieved the feat Wednesday when he scored in the 3-1 win of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) over Israeli club Maccabi Haifa. Messi, who scored the first PSG goal in the match, has now netted a Champions League goal against 39 different clubs, one more than Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, will take time to catch up as he isn't competing in the top European competition this season. His club Manchester United are playing in the second-tier European competition – the Europa League – this season. Ronaldo had never before played in the Europa League.

Further decorating his soccer resume, Messi also became the first-ever player to score in 18 consecutive Champions League campaigns.

Courtesy of the 24th-minute goal from Maccabi Haifa's 34-year-old Tjaronn Chery, the hosts had a lead at Sammy Ofer Stadium until Messi netted PSG's equalizer a few minutes before the half-time break. In the 69th minute, Kylian Mbappe, who had scored a brace in PSG's opening Champions League fixture last week, put the Paris-based club 2-1 up. A few minutes before the full-time whistle, in-form Neymar netted PSG's third goal.

Mbappe's goal was set up by Messi, who has already provided eight assists this season. He also scored five goals in 10 games in all competitions for PSG.

By scoring on Wednesday, Mbappe joined Edinson Cavani as PSG's all-time top scorer in the Champions League - 30 goals, according to PSG's official website. Mbappe has netted 30 goals and provided 23 assists in 46 appearances in the European competition for PSG.

This is the second time this season that Messi, Neymar and Mbappe have all scored in a single game. They had managed this feat only once in the last campaign, ESPN reported.

Interestingly, all of Messi's goals this season have come on the road – two of them have come in Israel (UCL and Trophée des Champions held in Tel Aviv) – but he is yet to score in Paris.

The goal against Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday marked Messi's 126th goal in the Champions League and sixth with PSG in the competition.