Lionel Messi scored his 700th in club football, joining long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo in the list of illustrious footballers to hit the mark. Ronaldo tops the charts with 706 goals in 954 appearances.
Messi and Kylian Mbappe inspired Paris St Germain to a 3-0 win over bitter rivals Olympique Marseille on Sunday to extend their Ligue 1 lead to eight points.
Mbappe, who scored a brace, was set up by Messi for both of his goals, and repaid the favor by setting up another for the Argentine striker as PSG, who were without injured Neymar, moved to 60 points in 25 games with second place. Marseilles on the 52.
France striker Mbappe, who was on the losing side against Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup final, became PSG’s co-scorer with 200 goals – level with Edinson Cavani.
“We were aggressive, we put intensity into the game, that’s what we were missing,” said PSG centre-back Sergio Ramos.
Marseille coach Igor Tudor said he doesn’t regret his team’s high-risk approach.
“Why should we have changed the way we play? It has worked well this season,” he said.
“Mbappé’s presence has changed nothing. His presence made it harder for us to play our game but we weren’t going to change that.
Third-placed Monaco lost 3-0 at home to Nice, who won with a brace from Terem Moffi and a superb half-volley from Khephren Thuram.
The result left Monaco with 50 points, ahead of fourth-placed RC Lens on goals after the northerners drew 1-1 at Montpellier on Saturday.
PSG, who were knocked out of the Coupe de France in the round of 16 by Marseille earlier this month, ended a three-game losing streak in all competitions by beating Lille last weekend and they are concentrated throughout the Velodrome.
They suffered an early injury when Presnel Kimpembe, who missed the World Cup for France with an Achilles problem, left the pitch on a stretcher, two weeks after returning from a three-month layoff.
Matteo Guendouzi created danger as Marseille pressed hard but they were exposed on the counter and the hosts were punished in the 25th minute when Messi sent Mbappe through for the French striker to rush into the box and beat Pau Lopez with a low shot.
The tables were turned four minutes later as Mbappe delivered an accurate cross for Messi, who exploited close range to double the advantage in front of an all-time Ligue 1 record attendance of 65,800.
Messi then missed a keeper and Mbappe was denied by Lopez after being found in the box again by the Argentine, just before Marquinhos’ angled shot went just wide as Marseille were caught again at the break .
Messi lifted the ball beautifully past Mbappe, who flew home with his left foot for his 16th Ligue 1 goal of the season.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a spectacular save over Nuno Tavares’ header in the 67th minute to stifle any hopes of a return to Marseille as PSG secured their first clean sheet in six league games.
PSG next face Nantes at home before traveling to Bayern Munich for their Champions League Round of 16 second leg after losing the first encounter 1-0 at the Parc des Princes.
(With agency contributions)
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