Lionel Messi became the only player in football history to have scored in 17 consecutive league games, bettering the previous mark of 16, set by Teodor Peterek. Peterek had scored 22 goals in 16 consecutive league matches in the Polish First Division way back in 1937-38.
The goal, Barca’s second in the 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna, means Messi now has 40 in La Liga this season. That should be enough to win Messi another Pichichi prize for the top scorer in Spain.
The win will give Barcelona a boost of confidence ahead of next week’s crunch Champions League tie with Milan.
The points bring the league title closer to the Camp Nou, with 11 games still to play this season, and guarantees that Barça maintain the lead they hold over the two Madrid teams, who play on Sunday, for another week at least.
Elsewhere in Spain, Piti scored his 11th goal of the season as Rayo Vallecano beat Espanyol 2-0 at home, while an Alejandro Alfonso double helped Mallorca beat Sevilla 2-1, despite Javier Márquez’s late red card.