Pele hails Messi’s record

LIONEL MESSI reached another personal scoring milestone in Barcelona’s 2-2 draw with Valencia in La Liga.

Messi’s 643rd goal for Barcelona since his 2004 debut matched Pele’s tally for Santos from 1957-74. Messi is Barcelona’s and the league’s all-time top scorer.

Pele congratulated the Argentina forward on social media: ‘Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day.

Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home. Congratulations on your historic record, Lionel.

‘But above all, congratulations on your beautiful career at Barcelona. Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, will be rare in football.’

Messi cancelled out Mouctar

Diakhaby’s opener for Valencia when he scored in first-half added time moments after Jaume Domenech had saved his penalty. Jordi Alba pounced on the rebound and crossed the ball for Messi to head in.

The result left Ronald Koeman’s team in fifth place and eight points adrift of league leaders Atletico Madrid, for whom Luis Suarez scored twice in their 3-1 win over Elche.