Lionel Messi has netted 51 times in 49 appearances this season, and has a huge 504 goals in his Barcelona career - the most in the club's history.

With that said, it may come as a surprise that Friday saw the Argentine win La Liga's Player of the Month award for only the SECOND time in his career.

Since its inception in 2013, Barcelona and Real Madrid players have rarely picked up the trophy, but Messi did this week manage to get his hands on it.

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi holds his La Liga Player of the Month award for April

The Argentine has only ever won the award twice - first earning it back in January 2016

The 29-year-old earned the April accolade after scoring eight goals in six league games, made up of braces against Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Osasuna.

Messi's double against Real Madrid ensures the La Liga title race remains well and truly alive, with the two sides level on points going into the final few games.

Barca have, though, played one more game than their bitter rivals.

Messi has 35 La Liga goals to his name so far in the current campaign, making him far and away the leading marksman in Spain.

Barcelona team-mates Luis Suarez and Neymar have both only ever won the award once

Antoine Griezmann has the record; he has won the Player of the Month award four times

Suarez, his Barcelona team-mate, is the next nearest with 27, while Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has 20.

Messi previously won the Player of the Month award in January 2016, the first time he had secured the triumph.

That month, he scored just six goals - poor in comparison to this win (!) - taking Barcelona to the top of the La Liga tree.

His April 2017 win takes him level on two with Ronaldo for overall wins, while Antoine Griezmann has won it the most with four.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH HISTORY Sep 13: Diego Costa (Atl Madrid) Oct 13: Koke (Atl Madrid) Nov 13: Cristiano Ronaldo (R Madrid) Dec 13: Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad) Jan 14: Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla) Feb 14: Rafinha (Celta Vigo) Mar 14: Keylor Navas (Levante) Apr 14: Diego Godin (Atl Madrid) May 14: Diego Godin (Atl Madrid) Sep 14: Nolito (Celta Vigo) Oct 14: Karim Benzema (R Madrid) Nov 14: Carlos Vela (Real Sociedad) Dec 14: Luciano Vietto (Villarreal) Jan 15: Antoine Griezmann (A Madrid) Feb 15: Alberto Bueno (R Vallecano) Mar 15: Vitolo (Sevilla) Apr 15: Antoine Griezmann (A Madrid) May 15: Cristiano Ronaldo (R Madrid) Sep 15: Nolito (Celta Vigo) Oct 15: Borja Baston (Eibar) Nov 15: Neymar (Barcelona) Dec 15: Lucas (Deportivo) Jan 16: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Feb 16: Miku (R Vallecano) Mar 16: Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao) Apr 16: Jon Ander Serantes (Leganes) May 16: Luis Suarez (Barcelona Aug 16: Jon Ander Serantes (Leganes) Sep 16: Antoine Griezmann (A Madrid) Oct 16: Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo) Nov 16: Diego Lopez (Espanyol) Dec 16: Florin Andone (Deportivo) Jan 17: Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla) Feb 17: Sergi Enrich (Eibar) Mar 17: Antoine Griezmann (A Madrid) Apr 17: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Advertisement