What more is there for Lionel Messi to accomplish in football?

The Argentinian already holds several records including the most Ballon d’Or wins and Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer.

He could retire today and still go down as the greatest player in the history of the game.

But, thankfully, we still have more years left to enjoy Messi’s brilliance and he’s not showing signs of slowing down at the age of 32.

And he still has some targets.

Messi is yet to win a major trophy with Argentina and would love another Champions League triumph, his most recent coming in 2015.

That’s not all. Barcelona have listed 12 challenges for Messi to complete in 2020 as he looks to add to his legacy.

1. Beat Pele as the top goalscorer for a single team

Brazilian legend Pele allegedly scored 643 competitive goals for Santos.

Messi - currently on 618 across all competitions for Barcelona - is just 25 goals behind and should set the record some this this year.

Image via FCBarcelona.com

2. Win a fifth Champions League

Messi won the Champions League in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.

One more triumph would leave him just one short of the record holder, Francisco Gento, who won six with Real Madrid.

3. Win his eleventh Liga title

Gento also holds the record for most La Liga titles, winning it 12 times.

Messi has won it 10 times, including in eight of the last 11 seasons, and is on course to move one behind Gento.

Barcelona currently hold a two-point lead in La Liga.

4. Win back the cup

Barcelona relinquished the Copa del Rey trophy when they lost to Valencia in last season’s final but Messi has an incentive to win it back this year.

The Barça forward has six wins and one more will see him match Jose Maria Belauste and Agustin ‘Piru’ Gainza as the all-time record holders.

5. A seventh Ballon d’Or

Messi has won the prestigious award six times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019) and will move further ahead of the pack if he can win it again.

6. Fourth Golden Shoe in a row

Messi’s goalscoring numbers are off the charts.

He’s been the top scorer in Europe on six occasions and is chasing a fourth Golden Shoe in a row.

7. Top Zarra’s Pichichi record

Messi shares the record for most Pichichi triumphs with Athletic legend Telmo Zarra, with both players winning it six times.

Messi will set the outright record if he finishes this season as the top goalscorer in Spain.

8. Set a new Barca Clasico appearances record

The Argentina international matched Xavi Hernandez when he made his 42nd Clasico appearance in the 0-0 draw last month.

One more would see him set a new club record and he’s just one short of Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos’ all-time record.

Image via FCBarcelona.com

9. Close in on a new Barca appearance record

Messi has made 705 appearances for the Blaugrana.

Xavi leads the way with 767 games and although Messi probably won’t catch him in 2020, he will start getting very close.

10. Set a new record for one-club titles

Messi has won 34 major honours at Barcelona, the same number Ryan Giggs won with Manchester United.

11. Be all-time top scorer in the Champions League

Messi is 14 goals shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most Champions League goals.

Messi has 114 goals, Ronaldo has 128, and he needs to enjoy a prolific knockout stage and hope that the Portuguese forward fails to add to his tally with Juventus.

This is a pretty unrealistic challenge for Messi to complete in 2020 but who knows what will happen in the upcoming years.

12. Win the Copa America with Argentina

This year brings another opportunity for Messi to win his first senior international title with his country.

Argentina is co-hosting the Copa America 2020, which gets underway in June, and Messi will be desperate to lift the trophy after losing four finals with the Albiceleste.

News Now - Sport News