Pele, the legendary soccer star, has just paid tribute to Lionel Messi for equalling his goal-scoring record for a single club after the Argentine netted his 643rd goal for Barcelona in Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Valencia.
Lionel Messi who is aged 33 years old achieved the milestone through a diving header slightly before half-time. The Argentine soccer star made his first appearance for Barcelona at the aged of 17 back in 2004. At that time, he required 748 matches in order to score 643 goals, while the legendary Pele managed the achievement in 665 competitive games for Santos.
“When your heart overflows with love, it is difficult to change your path.
“Like you, I know what it’s like to love wearing the same shirt every day,”
As you may recall, Pele, was the only player to have won the World Cup three times.
“Like you, I know that there is nothing better than the place we feel at home.
“Stories like ours, of loving the same club for so long, unfortunately will be increasingly unheard of in soccer.
“I admire you very much.” Wrote Pele on Instagram.
Pele, 80, made his Santos debut at aged 15 in 1956 and left in 1974. During that time, he had won six Brazilian league titles and two Copa Libertadores crowns.
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