Messi equals Zarra's 68-year-old Copa del Rey final record
The Barcelona star became only the second player to score in five Copa del Rey finals in Saturday night's showpiece event in Madrid.
Leo Messi became only the second player to score in five Copa del Rey finals in Saturday's 5-0 win over Sevilla, equalling a record set 68 years ago. The Barcelona star's first-half strike at the Wanda Metropolitano saw him draw level with the legendary Telmo Zarra, who netted in the 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1950 finals.
Messi in the final of the Copa del Rey
Messi scored in the three finals he played against Athletic Bilbao (2009, 2012 and 2015) and in last year's edition against Alavés. He failed to find the net in the two finals he played against Madrid in 2011 and 2014 and the previous final he took part in against Sevilla (2016).
Messi versus Sevilla
Sevilla have generally been easy prey for the Argentinean forward, who has his best record against the Andalusian team: no fewer than 31 goals. 24 in LaLiga, four in the Spanish Super Cup, two in the UEFA Super Cup and, now, one in the Copa.
But it's not been all easy times for Messi against Sevilla. In the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco in 2006, Barcelona went home with their tails between their legs after a 3-0 humbling. And Sevilla have also knocked Messi's Barça out of the Copa, in quarter-finals in 2010. The story has it that Messi was left sobbing bitter tears in the dressing room of the Sánchez Pizjuán that day. His other most dramatic moment against Sevilla was missing a vital penalty against Javi Varas in LaLiga in 2011-12.
Messi's finals contribution
Messi has been vital for Barcelona in the finals he's been involved in. As well as the Copa del Rey finals, he's scored two goals in three Champions League finals (against United in 2009 and 2011) and four goals in three Club World Cup finals, one against Estudiantes (2009), two against Santos (2011) and one against River (2015). He's also knocked home three goals in four UEFA Super Cup finals. One against Porto (2011) and two against Sevilla in 2015.
