Less than a week after being appointed the new Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi became the club’s most decorated player as the Catalan club defeated Sevilla to lift the Supercopa de España.
Victory handed Messi a 33rd trophy at the club and in doing so surpassed Andrés Iniesta, who had won 32 before moving to Japanese side Vissel Kobe this summer.
A dramatic match in Tangiers saw Barcelona come from behind to overturn Pablo Sarabia’s ninth minute opener. Gerard Piqué equalising before half time, Ousmane Dembélé blasting a decisive late goal and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen saving a last minute penalty to secure victory.
A first title in the era of Messi as captain, a first trophy of the season and hopefully a sign that Barcelona will not only defend their LaLiga crown but also challenge in the Champions League.
👏 Leo #Messi 👏
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆https://t.co/idztQWDVjm— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 13, 2018
Since lifting his first league title in 2005, Messi has added eight further LaLiga medals, four Champions League titles, six Copa del Reys, eight Supercopas. three European Super Cips and three Club World Cups.
“I don’t know what Messi must be feeling right now. If someone’s going to reach that sort of milestone, that many trophies with one club, it’s him,” Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde told reporters.
“It’s incredible. It’s fitting that he has the [club] record. We hope it doesn’t end here and he keeps on winning more.”
Messi’s old rival Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal for new club Juventus in the club’s annual friendly against the youth side and the Portuguese forward’s new teammate Paulo Dybala struck twice in the 5-0 win.
Ronaldo delighted supporters with his first goal in black and white within eight minutes and after youngster Riccardo Cappellini scored an own-goal, Dybala added two more before half time.
Claudio Marchisio added a fifth before the traditional pitch invasion ended the game just after the 70-minute mark. Juve are obviously still favourites to go on and lift an eighth consecutive Serie A title but Ronaldo is also hopefully the final piece of the puzzle in helping the Bianconeri end their Champions League wait.
Ronaldo’s goal scoring ability combined with Dybala’s talents is a partnership of enormous potential.
And finally in Paris, Javier Pastore was present for Paris Saint-Germain’s opening Ligue 1 win over Caen to bid an emotional goodbye to the club.
The 29-year-old joined Roma earlier in the window after seven years with PSG and thanked supporters for his time.
“I thought a lot about what to say and I am very nervous now. I built my family here, I got married here, you will always remain in my heart, you are my family, thank you very much,” Pastore said.
Javier Pastore for PSG in Ligue 1 and the Champions League:
7 seasons
223 games
305 chances created
300 take-ons completed
295 tackles won
166 interceptions
46 assists
33 goalsA solid servant. 💪 https://t.co/YtInJFCDw4
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 13, 2018
golazo argentino 