Messi breaks world record with goal against Deportivo

The Argentine has become the only player in football history to have netted in 17 consecutive league games following his late strike at Camp Nou on Saturday night

Lionel Messi's late strike for Barcelona at home to Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday night saw the Argentine set a new world record for consecutive league goals in the top flight.

The goal, Barca's second in the 2-0 win over the Galicians, means Messi has netted in 17 straight Liga 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.

Messi, who recently surpassed 200 goals in La Liga, now has 40 in the Primera Division this term, a total which would have been enough to win the Pichichi prize for the top scorer in every single season except the last one - which he himself claimed.

Brazil striker Ronaldo previously held the record for scoring in consecutive games in La Liga with 10 during his time with Barca, a mark long since surpassed by the Argentine.