BARCELONA
'Incredible' - Messi making more Barcelona history
Ronald Koeman said it proves how valuable Lionel Messi has been that he is set to equal Xavi's appearance record at Camp Nou.
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman lauded "incredible" Lionel Messi as the superstar captain prepares to equal Xavi's historic appearance record.
Messi on verge of Xavi record
Messi is one game away from matching Xavi as the players with the most games in Barcelona's history – 767 – ahead of Monday's LaLiga clash against Huesca.
Barça's Messi, who already holds the record for most trophies (34) and goals (658) in club history at Camp Nou, equalled Barça's all-time LaLiga appearances mark set by Xavi last month.
To date, Messi has featured in 509 LaLiga matches, while playing 149 Champions League fixtures, 79 Copa del Rey games, 20 in the Supercopa de Espana, five in the Club World Cup and four in the UEFA Super Cup.
"Well it is an incredible number of games," Koeman told reporters. "That also shows what Xavi did for the club, and now Messi will equal the number games of Xavi.
"It will be a great day and then the next that will be one more than Xavi achieved with Barcelona. It is incredible because that shows how important he is and was for Barcelona.
"The number of games, the number of goals, the number of hat-tricks, the number of titles.
"Let's hope that we will continue with Leo, winning titles, what he showed and what he did for this club."
The 33-year-old Messi tops LaLiga's goalscoring charts this season with 19 as Barça look to close within four points of leaders Atletico Madrid.
Messi has been involved in five goals in two games against Huesca in LaLiga (two goals and three assists), including two goals and two assists in his only league appearance against them at Camp Nou.
Barcelona have gone 16 games without losing in LaLiga (W13 D3) – the best current unbeaten streak of any team in the five major leagues in Europe.