Lionel Messi surpasses Telmo Zarra as La Liga's all-time top scorer

Lionel Messi broke Telmo Zarra’s long standing record of 251 goals in the La Liga to create history with a hat-trick in Barcelona’s 5-1 win against Sevilla. Entering the match on 250 goals, the Argentine equalled the record with a beautiful free-kick in the 21st minute, surpassed it with a sliding finish after a one-two with Neymar in the 76th minute and then completed his hat-trick with a shot at the edge of the box. Previous holder Zarra was an Athletic Bilbao legend who had scored 251 goals in 277 games.

Rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who is having a phenomenal season, is 9th on the all-time list. He has 197 goals at a staggering 1.12 goals per game average. Messi was felicitated by his club and was given a video tribute after the game on the giant screen.

The Nou Camp chanted his name, his team-mates threw him up into the air, giving him the bumps. Messi walked towards the tunnel, clutching the match ball. Before he was allowed to leave, the Barcelona team stood by his side, watching a video of his goals and clips of his former team-mates and coaches hailing him.

Messi looked taken aback, almost sheepish as some of his greatest moments were played out to the 78,000 spectators. But he also looked happy. Despite his comments earlier this week, suggesting his future may lie elsewhere, it’s almost impossible to see him leaving his home here. The other Barcelona players gave him a guard of honour as he left the field.

Infographic of Leo Messi's Liga goalscoring record

Full details of the 253 goals scored by the Argentinian