Just on the opening day of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League campaign, another record has been created by one of the best players of all time.

Argentina international Lionel Messi became the first player to find the back of the net in 16 consecutive Champions League campaign after scoring against Hungarian club Ferencvaros on Tuesday, with usplayercheck having offered odds on him scoring ahead of the football match.

 

The Argentine forward earned a penalty for his team after swiftly moving through to the Ferencvaros’ defense, which brought him down. And in the 27th minute, the Argentine forward scored from the spot handing his team the lead on Tuesday night football.

Former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs is the first-ever player to achieve this feat in the Champions League, as Messi became the second player to do so overall.

Barcelona youngster Ansu Fati added the second goal of the match to help his team with a comfortable lead before the break at Camp Nou. The youngster also made his history with his goal, being the first player to score more than once before clocking 18 years of age in the European tournament.

The Catalonians went on to win their Champions League opener as they claimed a 5-1 victory against the Hungarian team with Philippe Coutinho, Pedri, and Ousmane Dembele being on the score sheet.

 

Gerard Pique brought down Hungarian striker Tokmac Nguen in the box after dragging him all the way. Pique’s foul saw him receive a red card reducing the Barcelona team to 10 while Ferencvaros was handed a penalty kick. Ihor Khaatin scores the only goal for Ferencvaros from the spot in the 70th minute of the Tuesday match opener.

Messi’s goal in the Champions League opener was his second goal of the 2020/21 campaign as he has gone three straight league games without registering a goal with his last goal coming from the La Liga opener against Villarreal.

His goal against Villarreal was also a penalty; he has yet to find the back of the net from an open play, as new casinos had formerly provided huge odds backing the Argentine to score in every two matches being played.

 

Before the Tuesday match, Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman admitted that the Argentine could play improve his game, having received some light criticism recently.

Speaking to the press, he said: “Maybe Messi’s form could be better at this moment, but he’s happy, he’s training well, he’s focused, he wants to play and he wants to be captain of the team and he’s improving. I haven’t got any complaints.

“He also had bad luck with the ball that hit the post and with the final play of the match. Normally, he puts it between the posts! I do not doubt his form and we’ll see that in the coming games.”

Before the beginning of the 2020/21 campaign, during the summer transfer window, Lionel Messi was reported to have tabled a request to part ways with the Catalonia giants.

He ended up changing his mind after realizing he will have to go through a legal battle to make his wish come true. Messi had formerly spoken about how unhappy he is with the situation at Camp Nou after the team went a season without silverware.