Infographic: Messi v Pele ~ Barcelona icon finally eclipses Brazilian legend

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As Barcelona beat Sevilla to win the Copa del Rey on Sunday evening, Lionel Messi eclipsed Pele‘s record of career titles.

After an ill-tempered contest, nothing could separate the Liga BBVA champions and the Europa League winners at the end of 90 minutes, with both sides down to ten men following red cards for Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega.

However, Barca’s class told in extra time as goals from Jordi Alba and Neymar took the cup to Catalonia.

As noted by Marca, the cup victory takes Messi up to 30 career honours—one above Pele, who won 29 during his storied career.

Still only 28, expect Messi to pull away from the Brazil great in terms of titles won over the coming years of his career, as he cements himself as the greatest of all time.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner can look back on a career which has brought him eight Spanish titles, six Spanish Super Cups, four Champions League titles and—after Sunday’s triumph—four Spanish Cups.

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However, while Messi won the Olympic games in 2008, the World Cup—a competition Pele won three times—still eludes him.

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