Lionel Messi’s 800 career goals: Breakdown

The Argentine is regarded as one of the best footballers of all time

Argentina defeated Panama 2-0 in their first game following the World Cup thanks to a goal from Lionel Messi, who also scored his 800th goal at the highest level.

After Cristiano Ronaldo, the 35-year-old attacker for Paris Saint-Germain became the second player to accomplish the feat. With Barcelona and PSG combined, Messi scored 672 goals in 17 seasons.

He has also 99 international goals, with half getting in the World Cup final. At the Pivotal de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, the skipper of Argentina added to Thiago Almada's opening goal 11 minutes earlier with a free kick in the 89th minute.

Messi has the chance to record his 100th goal for Argentina when they take against Curacao on Tuesday.

That is yet another landmark in an incredible career during which he's won practically every major prize, notably four Champions Leagues, 10 La Liga crowns, the Copa America and, ultimately in December, a World Cup champion's badge.

Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won the Ballon d'Or – given to the finest player of the year in European football – a remarkable seven times, twice as many as Cristiano Ronaldo.

The French Cup is the first big tournament Messi has competed in and has yet to win.

Messi's 35 silverware with Barcelona, which he joined at the age of 13, make him the most adorned player in the history of the club, and he is understandably the club's all-time leading scorer (778) record.

He has indeed registered more goals (474) and supplied most assists (192) than any player to have participated in La Liga and owns the distinction for most goals scored in one season in the Spanish top division - his 50 in 37 appearances during 2011-12.

He has already received 172 caps for Argentina and is just one goal short of scoring 100 goals for his nation. Gabriel Batistuta is next on the chart with a remarkable 56 from 78 games.

Lionel Messi's 800 career goals breakdown.

Barcelona:

Matches: 778

Goals: 672

Assists: 303

PSG

Matches: 66

Goals: 29

Assists: 32

Argentina

Matches: 173

Goals: 99

Assists: 55