Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the winning goal for Barcelona

Watch: Lionel Messi scores the winner as Barcelona clinch the La Liga title

By Sporting Life

Football

Sat April 27, 2019 · 6y ago

Lionel Messi scored the only goal as Barcelona clinched the La Liga title by defeating Levante on Saturday night.

Fittingly it was the Argentina international who came off the bench to seal their glory with three games to spare and he now becomes a La Liga winner for the 10th occasion in his incredible career - the most ever for a Barcelona player, eclipsing the great Andreas Iniesta by one.

The Catalan giants can now celebrate becoming Spanish champions for the 26th time in their history and for the eighth season out of the last 11, although amazingly it was the first since 2010 they had clinched it at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona hold a nine point lead over Atletico Madrid with a vastly superior goal difference while their fierce rivals Real Madrid are a further nine behind.

They remain on track for a third treble since 2009 with the Copa del Rey final against Valencia next month.

It was far from straightforward against opponents who belied their position just three points clear of the relegation zone with a bold display which could, and probably should, have earned them a point.

But Messi, rested for the first half as coach Ernesto Valverde had one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool, scored his 34th league goal of the season - and his 598th in his 682nd Barcelona game, to get the party started.

He is now two behind his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of club goals after the former Real Madrid star got his 600th in his 801st game earlier in the evening, but it won't be too long before he too reaches that staggering milestone.