Messi scores 500th goal: Barcelona star nets milestone

Lionel Messi scored the 500th goal of his senior career in Sunday's Spanish league match between Barcelona and Valencia.

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Lionel Messi scored the 500th goal of his senior career in Sunday's Spanish league match between Barcelona and Valencia.

Messi had been sitting on the cusp of the milestone for four games, enduring his longest goal drought in five years before finally netting his 500th. He did not score a goal in Barcelona's loss to Real Madrid in El Clasico, which pushed the quest later. He failed to find the back of the net vs. Atletico Madrid in either leg of their Champions League quarterfinal encounter, which sandwiched a goal-less again effort in a loss to Real Sociedad last Saturday.

He took care of business, at last, scoring in the 63rd minute to cut into Valencia’s two-goal lead. Messi took the shot from just left of the penalty spot, expertly tapping in a pass from Jordi Alba. 

IT'S THERE! 500th goal for Leo Messi. Take A Bow! #LaLiga #FCBvVAL https://t.co/kptzAPj4jS

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) April 17, 2016

• Watch: Best El Clásico goals from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

The goal was his 450th with Barcelona (excluding club friendlies). During the March international fixture window, Messi notched his 50th international goal, doing so from the penalty spot as Argentina downed Bolivia 2–0 in a World Cup qualifier.