Messi on his first steps at Barcelona: Eto'o told me that the day I start scoring goals... Barcelona Received some advice from the striker

Lionel Messi is LaLiga Santander's all-time top goalscorer, yet the Barcelona captain has revealed an early conversation he had with former teammate Samuel Eto'o after breaking into the Blaugrana's first team.

The Cameroonian striker began his career with Real Madrid and that led to loan moves to Leganes, Espanyol and Real Mallorca before permanently moving to the Balearic Islanders, with his form there seeing him earn a move to Barcelona in 2004.

"I remember many times Eto'o told me, 'the day you start scoring goals, you're going to be...'" Messi told LaLiga.

"Because he had a lot of chances and he didn't score [at the start of his career].

"Until one day everything opened up, [then] they went in and all started going in."

Messi's career has been glittered with all types of records and accomplishments, but being the Spanish top flight's record goalscorer is one that he holds higher than most.

"Being LaLiga's top goalscorer, with what LaLiga in Spain means, is special," Messi noted.

"Actually, I think it's one of the more beautiful records that I have."

The Argentine has become one of the deadliest free-kick takers in the world, and he has revealed his secret.

"Yes, in the last few years I began to look and see if the goalkeeper moves before I hit the ball," Messi explained.

"[To see] if he takes a step or not, how the wall is placed.

"I study it more now. And I started improving the way I hit the ball during training."