UEFA Champions League 2022: 3 Records that Messi might target in Ronaldo’s absence

UEFA Champions League 2022: 3 Records that Messi might target in Ronaldo’s absence

Messi in UCL 2023: Lionel Messi enjoyed a great end to the year 2022 as the Argentine captain lifted the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

On return to club football, Messi has continued his brilliant 2022-23 season scoring the double of 10 goals and assists for PSG in the Ligue 1.

Now Messi makes his return to the UEFA Champions League later this month, when his side face Bayern Munich in a crunch Round of 16 tie.

Lionel will be shouldering the responsibilities for the Parisians after Mbappe’s injury saw him ruled out of the 1^st leg atleast.

PSG confirm that Kylian Mbappe will be out an estimated three weeks.

He will miss PSG’s UCL match against Bayern Munich 😮 pic.twitter.com/020vhq1l68

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 2, 2023

With Neymar’s injury also not completely recovered, Messi heads into the UCL knockouts with one plan on his mind- a European title for PSG.

Ronaldo’s absence from the competition this season certainly raised the Argentine’s performance in the group stage.

Hence, we look at 3 records of Ronaldo’s that Messi might target in the knockout stages of the season.

Most Assists

Also read: UEFA Champions League 2022-23: Stats, Man of the Match, Most Goals, Clean-Sheet, Most Assists; Know All

Lionel Messi currently has 40 assists and is 2^nd to rival, Ronaldo (42) in the list for most assists.

With the Argentine set to be a part of the Round of 16, he will be itching to go past CR7 and achieve the record.

Most penalty goals scored

Also read: UEFA Champions League 2022-23 Round of 16: How to watch Streaming, Channel Name, Live Link

Messi scored 18 penalty goals in the Champions League and is just one behind Ronaldo (19), who holds the record.

The Argentine lad will be gunning for this record as well to become the all-time leading penalty scorer of the competition.

Most UCL goals

Messi has not won a Champions League title since leaving Barcelona and will want to do so at PSG.

Ronaldo tops the list for all-time most goals in the competition (141) with Messi creeping in behind with 129.

🔝 Top goal-scorers in Champions League history:

1️⃣ Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 – 140 goals
2️⃣ Leo Messi 🇦🇷 – 129 goals

Do you think Messi will catch Cristiano? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/UnI28uCIjv

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) October 26, 2022

If Messi can replicate his World Cup performances in the UCL this season, he could end up gaining this record as well.

With Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and likely to not play any European football anymore, Messi could finish his career as the UCL’s All-time top scorer.