La Liga: Decoding the unbreakable records
What's the story
The Spanish league known as La Liga started in the year 1929. Real Madrid have gone on to amass a record 34 titles, whereas, Barcelona follow suit with 26 honors. Over the course of the league, there have been numerous records scripted by both teams and individuals. Many of these records have been surpassed, however, several others remain intact. Here are further details.
Titles
Five successive La Liga title wins
Winning consecutive league seasons is difficult for any side in European club football. A handful of clubs around Europe have achieved this mark three times or more. When it comes to La Liga, Real Madrid have sealed the honor in five successive seasons on two occasions. Los Blancos achieved the feat in 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1964-65 and 1985-86, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90.
Context
Why does it matter?
Real Madrid lead La Liga 2021-22 standings and are aiming to lift a record-extending 35th title. Of late, former La Liga players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated the scenes and smashed several top records. In the meantime, Real and Barca stepped up and showed authority as Atletico Madrid impressed too. There are many unbreakable records in La Liga and we decode the same.
Messi
Messi holds the record for most goals and hat-tricks
Barcelona's Lionel Messi dominated the Spanish league before leaving for PSG last summer. Messi's 474-goal tally is a league record and it's one for the ages. The next best goal-scorer amongst active players is Karim Benzema (209). Messi has the most hat-tricks in La Liga (36) and is followed by former Real ace Cristiano Ronaldo (34). No other active players have more than 10.
La Liga
Other top unbreakable individual records of Messi
When it comes to most goals in a La Liga season, Messi's tally of 50 in the 2011-12 season has remained as it is. The Argentine has won the most La Liga titles as a non Spanish player (10). Messi has the record for most La Liga appearances by a foreign player (520). Messi has the most league assists of 192.
Stats
Notable numbers of Messi and Ronaldo
Messi has scored against the most opponents in La Liga history (38). Cristiano Ronaldo is the fastest to 300 La Liga goals (286 matches). Messi and Ronaldo have the joint-most hat-tricks in a season (8). Messi is the only player to score 30-plus goals in eight different La Liga seasons. Luis Suarez is the only player to score four goals in two successive matches.
Other records
Real have the most points in a season
Real have amassed the most goals in a single season (121). They achieved the same in 2011-12. Real and Barcelona have the highest points tally in a single campaign (100 each). Former Bilbao, Barca and Valencia ace Andoni Zubizarreta holds the record for making the most appearances (622). Luis Aragonés, who managed a host of clubs, have the highest tally for a manager (757).