Messi makes La Liga history with 20th assist of the season

Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

The Barcelona captain’s numbers are extraordinary

Lionel Messi made yet more history on Saturday night by becoming the first player to hit 20 goals and assists in a single season in La Liga.

The Barcelona captain set up Arturo Vidal for the only goal of the game, notching his 20th assist of the campaign to go with his 22 goals.

GOAL FOR BARCELONA!

Arturo Vidal gives the Blaugrana a 1-0 lead with his strike.#RealValladolidBarça LIVE NOW ⬇️
beIN SPORTS
CONNECT https://t.co/LRYa03w6yI pic.twitter.com/NrmcSb3g0g

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) July 11, 2020

No player has ever managed those kind of numbers in La Liga before. In fact it’s only been done once before in Europe’s top leagues, when Thierry Henry managed it in the Premier League with Arsenal before his move to the Camp Nou.

20 - Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the second player to score 20 goals (22) and provide 20 assists in a single season in the Top 5 European Leagues in the 21st century after Thierry Henry (24 goals and 20 assists in 2002/03 for Arsenal. History. pic.twitter.com/Zy5bsplSoG

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 11, 2020

Messi also becomes the first Barcelona player to reach 20 assists in a single top-flight campaign since Xavi did it all the way back in 2008-09.

- Lionel Messi is the first player to reach 20 assists in a La Liga season since Xavi (21) in 2008/09. #ValladolidBarça #ForçaBarça

— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) July 11, 2020

It’s another extraordinary achievement by Messi who may not be done quite yet either, as Barcelona still have games to come against Osasuna and Alaves.

The captain’s played every minute so far since the restart and is unlikely to be rested while the title is still mathematically possible.

Source: barcablaugranes.com