FA Cup: 50 iconic goals

Advertisement

19 September 2014 Last updated at 06:44 GMT

• Share
• Facebook
• Twitter

• print

BBC Sport is looking back at an iconic FA Cup goal a day ahead of the first round proper, which kicks off in November.

Here’s the list so far:

1. Steven Gerrard’s last-gasp screamer

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scores a dramatic last-gasp equaliser against West Ham in the 2006 final.

Watch the video here.

2. Trevor Sinclair’s bicycle kick

Trevor Sinclair scores a spectacular bicycle kick for QPR against Barnsley in the fourth round in 1997.

Watch the video here.

3. Trevor Brooking’s winning header

Trevor Brooking’s header against Arsenal seals West Ham’s third FA Cup triumph in 1980.

Watch the video here.

4. Crazy Gang beat Culture Club

Lawrie Sanchez’s header gives Wimbledon a famous victory over Liverpool in the 1988 final at Wembley.

Watch the video here.

5. Shrewsbury Town shock Everton

Nigel Jemson’s stunning free-kick helps third division Shrewsbury Town beat Premier League Everton in the third round in 2003.

Watch the video here.

6. Stuart Pearce’s free-kick

Nottingham Forest’s Stuart Pearce unleashes a thunderous free-kick past Tottenham’s Erik Thorstvedt in the 1991 FA Cup final.

Watch the video here.

7. Tim Cahill makes his mark

Tim Cahill scores the only goal as Millwall beat Sunderland to reach the final in 2004.

Watch the video here.

8. The genius of Gazza

Tottenham’s Paul Gascoigne arrows a 35-yard free-kick into the top corner past Arsenal keeper David Seaman during the 1991 semi-final.

Watch the video here.

9. Ian Rush’s turn and shot

Ian Rush scores with a smart shot on the turn to help Liverpool beat Merseyside rivals Everton in extra time in the 1989 FA Cup final.

Watch the video here.

10. Arsenal’s Sunderland stuns Man United

Alan Sunderland snatches a dramatic late winner for Arsenal against Manchester United in the dying seconds of the 1979 final.

Watch the video here.

11. Tim Buzaglo hat-trick sinks West Brom

Estate agent and Gibraltarian cricketer Tim Buzaglo scores to seal a fine hat-trick as non-league Woking thrash the Baggies 4-2 in the third round in the 1990-91 season.

Watch the video here.

12. Michael Owen’s solo effort wins cup final

A 21-year-old Michael Owen wins the FA Cup for Liverpool with a stunning finish into the bottom corner two minutes from time in the 2001 final against Arsenal.

Watch the video here.

13. Bobby Stokes and Saints stun Man Utd

Southampton winger Bobby Stokes scores the only goal of the 1976 final latching onto a through-ball from Jim McCalliog to secure Southampton’s only trophy.

Watch the video here.

14. Ian Thompson helps Bournemouth shock Man Utd

Ian Thompson scores Bournemouth’s second goal against a star-studded Manchester United side, for one of the greatest Cup shocks during the third round in the 1983-84 season.

Watch the video here.

15. Ian Porterfield inspires Sunderland upset

Ian Porterfield picks up a loose ball and rifles into the roof of the net to win the 1973 final for Second Division Sunderland against European giants Leeds United.

Watch the video here.

16. Ray Parlour’s stunning curler

Ray Parlour curls a memorable opener for Arsenal against Chelsea in the 2002 final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Watch the video here.

17. Norman Whiteside’s wonder goal

Manchester United’s young striker Norman Whiteside scores the only goal of the game in the 1985 final, as his wonderful curling shot past Everton’s Neville Southall secures the cup for the Reds.

Watch the video here.

18. Luton shock Norwich

Scott Rendell’s near-post finish against Norwich in the fourth round in 2013 ensures Luton become the first non-league team to knock a top-flight side out of the FA Cup since Sutton’s famous 1989 toppling of Coventry.

Watch the video here.

19. Djimi Traore’s spectacular own goal

Liverpool defender Djimi Traore scores a spectacular own goal as Burnley knock out the Reds in the third round in 2005.

Watch the video here.

20. Mark Robins saves Alex Ferguson

Manchester United’s Mark Robbins scores the only goal of the game away to an in-form Nottingham Forest in the 1990 third round, in a match that many believe saved Alex Ferguson’s job as United’s manager.

His side would go on to lift the FA Cup later that year, the first of 49 trophies during Ferguson’s 26-year reign as Manchester United’s manager.

Watch the video here.

21. Michael Thomas’s Liverpool redemption

After scoring the decisive goal for Arsenal to snatch the 1989 league title from Liverpool’s grasp, Michael Thomas scores the opening goal for his new side Liverpool in the 1992 final against Sunderland.

Watch the video here.

22. Kevin Sheedy’s retaken free-kick

Everton’s Kevin Sheedy scores a wonderful free-kick in the 1985 quarter-final against Ipswich, but when referee Alan Robinson orders a retake, Sheedy duly steps up and scores again.

Watch the video here.

23. Chesterfield’s local hero Jamie Hewitt levels

In this 1997 FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford Chesterfield local boy Jamie Hewitt earns the Spireites a replay against Middlesbrough as his looping header finds the top corner 65 seconds before the end of extra-time to level the score at 3-3.

Watch the video here.

24. Xabi Alonso’s halfway trick

Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso finishes off a memorable comeback against Luton in a classic third-round tie in 2006 as he drives the ball 70 yards into the unguarded net to make it 5-3 for the Reds.

Watch the video here.

25. Jermaine Beckford upsets Man Utd

Jermaine Beckford scores the only goal as Manchester United and Leeds renew their great rivalry, with the Premier League champions facing the League One side for the first time in six years during this third-round tie in 2010.

Watch the video here.

26. David Webb’s winner for Chelsea

Chelsea’s David Webb nods home against Leeds in the 1970 final replay at Old Trafford to clinch The Blues’ first FA Cup triumph.

Watch the video here.

27. Mark Hughes’ last-gasp volley

Trailing Oldham 1-0 in the 1994 FA Cup semi-final, 30-year-old Mark Hughes came to Manchester United’s rescue, guiding home a perfectly-controlled volley in the last minute of extra time.

Watch the video here.

28. Stevenage rock Newcastle

Peter Winn’s cool finish late on ensured that Stevenage would finally claim the upset that eluded them 13 years previously against Newcastle, in the third round during the 2010-11 season.

Watch the video here.

29. Thierry Henry’s Arsenal return

On loan to his old club Thierry Henry scored his 227th goal for the Gunners, secured Arsenal a 1-0 victory against Leeds United and progress to the fourth round – and a dream return for Henry on his 380th appearance.

Watch the video here.

30. Jon Macken caps Man City comeback

This header at the far post from Manchester City’s Jon Macken in the dying seconds of a fourth round tie at White Hart Lane completed an incredible 4-3 comeback from City after trailing 3-0 to Spurs at half time.

Watch the video here.

31. Drogba’s Wembley delight

Ivorian Didier Drogba places a precise free-kick into the corner of David James’s goal sparking wild celebrations as Chelsea win the 2010 FA Cup.

It was the striker’s 37th goal of a dominant season as he maintained his outstanding scoring run at Wembley to six successive matches.

Watch the video here.

32. Ray Crawford surprises Leeds United

Ray Crawford’s moment in the sun was a February 1971 FA Cup ‘cupset’, when an ageing Colchester United side toppled Leeds United 3-2 in the fifth round.

Watch the video here.

33. Roberto Di Matteo’s drive

42 seconds into the 1997 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Middlesbrough Roberto Di Matteo scored with a 30-yard strike which flew in off the crossbar.

It was the fastest goal scored in an FA Cup final at Wembley – a record since broken by Louis Saha in Everton’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea in 2009.

Watch the video here.

34. Chris Waddle’s free-kick

Chris Waddle opens the scoring in the all-Sheffield semi-final in 1991 with a long-range free-kick for Sheffield Wednesday against city rivals Sheffield United.

Watch the video here.

35. David Ginola’s slalom run

David Ginola’s superb solo goal for Tottenham in the 1999 quarter-final against Barnsley showed him at his mercurial best.

Watch the video here.

36. Paolo Di Canio embarrasses Barthez

West Ham’s Paolo Di Canio was not fooled in 2001 as Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez tried to make the Italian believe he had been flagged offside.

Watch the video here.

37. Dennis Bergkamp’s trademark finish

A moment of magic from Arsenal’s Dennis Bergkamp in 1997 helped new manager Arsene Wenger overcome Sunderland.

Watch the video here.

38. Louis Saha’s fastest final goal

Everton’s Louis Saha scores after only 25 seconds of the 2009 final against Chelsea but ultimately ends up on the losing side.

Watch the video here.

39. Ben Watson’s winner for Wigan

Ben Watson scores the only goal in injury time as Wigan upset the odds to beat Manchester City in the 2013 final and win their first major trophy in their 81-year history.

Watch the video here.

40. Eric Cantona’s volley

Manchester United beat rivals Liverpool in the 1996 final thanks to Eric Cantona’s volley five minutes from the end.

Watch the video here.

41. George celebrates stylishly

Long-haired midfielder Charlie George scores an extra-time winner in the 1971 final against Liverpool as Arsenal wrapped up a league and cup double.

Watch the video here.

42. Hanlan’s upset

Matthew Hanlan volleys Sutton into the history books in arguably one of the biggest giant-killings of all time.

Watch the video here.

43. Young sends Cardiff through

Scott Young sends Cardiff – then playing in the old Second Division – into the fourth round by scoring the winner against Premier League leaders Leeds at Ninian Park in 2002.

Watch the video here.

Share this story

Harder, faster, stronger – creating tomorrow’s footballer

29 October 2014 Last updated at 00:05 GMT

• print

By Alec Fenn Football writer

A new breed of innovative minds are at work creating tomorrow’s footballer.

The aim is to manufacture athletic perfection, as a small band of elite visual experts, psychologists and skills coaches work towards producing the perfect player, armed with enhanced technique, vision, intelligence and mental resilience.

Tom Bates is a sports psychologist  with a twist. He is West Brom’s peak performance coach and implements training sessions designed to improve concentration, composure and decision-making on the ball.

It’s late April and he’s demonstrating a technique known as mirroring at a science and football conference at the London Soccerdome – a vast indoor arena in the south east of the city – in front of a 400-strong band of coaches from across the globe.

The exercise is one Bates uses with youngsters making the transition into the senior setup, as well as the first team itself – including West Brom’s hottest prospect Saido Berahino.

Bates has worked with numerous West Brom players to develop their speed of decision-making

A set of coloured markers are laid out on the pitch, with the player required to dribble through them at pace in a sequence of their choice, using any turns or body swerves they deem appropriate. Opposite, a team-mate is tasked with creating a mirror image by copying that exact route in an identical fashion at the same time.

As with all his sessions, Bates has minimal vocal input, interrupting the drill only to offer words of encouragement before asking the players questions and offering them the chance to give feedback at the end. The key is encouraging each player to think independently at speed.

“The modern-day player is evolving,” Bates tells BBC Sport. “We want to make intelligent footballers.

“The Premier League is getting faster. Players have less time on the ball and need to be able to make decisions quickly, independent of the coach. The more we practise in that way, the faster we’re able to make correct decisions under pressure – playing the right pass, hitting a shot.”

Some 250 miles north in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton, UK Futsal pioneer and Brazilian Soccer Schools entrepreneur Simon Clifford  has a new project, working on a one-on-one basis with a selection of the country’s elite youth players.

His philosophy is based on the teaching of 200 core moves – dribbles and feints, shimmies and turns – performed with both feet, as he strives to create skilful players capable of beating opponents with a variety of tricks and flicks.

The coaches creating the new breed
Tom Bates Spent four years with both Bournemouth and Birmingham City before joining West Brom in 2012. Helped a number of clients, including England international Karen Carney and Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland during the 2012 Olympic Games. Studied Barcelona’s coaching model during a trip to La Masia in 2012.
Malcolm Frame Southampton’s psychologist for the last 12 years. As well as working with the club’s youth and first-team players, he also spends time with the Saints’ coaching staff in a bid to create emotionally intelligent role models for the club’s next generation.
Sherylle Calder Worked with the England rugby team when they won the World Cup in 2003 and was also part of the coaching staff as South Africa lifted the trophy four years later. She has worked across sports including football, baseball, taekwondo, golf, beach volleyball and canoeing.
Simon Clifford Founded the Brazilian Soccer Schools franchise across the UK and five different continents. Philosophy places emphasis on improving ball skills as well as fitness and physical strength. He has worked one-to-one with Michael Owen and Micah Richards among others.

In 2002, the Football Association invited Clifford to Keele University, where he taught every Premier League academy how to coach Futsal, a game that remains popular in Brazil. It is played in a fast-paced five-a-side format on a small pitch with touchlines, hockey-sized goals and a heavy size-four football, with an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and ball control.

But it’s another of his entrepreneurial sparks that could have the biggest impact on tomorrow’s footballer. His Socatots scheme sees children between the ages of six months and five years taught basic movement and football skills in a pre-school type environment.

“The biggest change is that our players are completely two-footed,” he says. “You have to have complete balance, which means you can beat players in any direction.

“At Chelsea, they start at under-eights and all bar one or two of their young players have come through Socatots. Our idea is to develop two-footedness and technique before you look at anything else.”

The path of innovation leads to Southampton’s Staplewood training complex, where for the last 12 years the club’s psychologist and head of education, Malcolm Frame, has developed an emotional intelligence programme.

He aims to improve players’ awareness of their emotions, how to control them and express them on the pitch. His mantra is a simple one.

“Emotions drive thoughts, thoughts drive behaviour, behaviour drives performance,” Frome told BBC Sport.

Calder has worked with top sportsmen such as Habana and Els

At the start of every season he conducts several assessments. The first is a test in which each player answers questions about how they would feel and react in a variety of situations during a game. An assessment of their behaviour on the pitch and feedback from coaches are then combined to produce an overall score.

“We make an analysis of all that information and then sit down with each player and formulate a plan,” Frame explains. “We have a set programme for players with anger problems – we’re developing breathing techniques to help control that on the field.”

But does it actually work? “Our research shows players with high levels of emotional intelligence are able to keep their emotions in check and deal effectively with the range of events they experience on the pitch,” says Frame.

“We’re massively impressed with our young midfielder James Ward-Prowse, his attitude and maturity. You look at Gareth Bale – he had a fantastic inner self confidence and drive. Adam Lallana – talk about someone who wasn’t impulsive and didn’t make rash decisions.”

Play media

Watch Sherylle Calder put a BBC journalist through his paces

Saints youth products Ward-Prowse, Bale and Lallana have now made more than 600 appearances in all competitions and only Real Madrid’s Bale has a red card to his name – a solitary dismissal for Tottenham in 2008.

Harnessing the power of the mind to influence athletic performance has been Sherylle Calder’s mission since the mid-1990s. She’s the worldwide leading expert in visual skills coaching and has pioneered a computer software programme called EyeGym.

Based in South Africa, she has won the backing of a host of top sportsmen, who have spoken of considerable advances in their reading of the game through use of software and on-field training.

“We train how quickly you see the ball,” she explains. “Visual recognition skills you can accelerate – they’re trainable, not god-given. The earlier you see it, the more time you have; the more time you have, the longer you have to make a decision.”

Calder was part of Clive Woodward’s staff when England won the rugby World Cup in 2003, before being hired by South Africa as they went on to lift the trophy four years later.

She has since designed bespoke programmes for an elite client list including four-time major-winning golfer Ernie Els, England’s rugby World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and wing Bryan Habana, who remains one of the stars of the game for South Africa.

F1 driver Bottas reckons Calder has dramatically improved his response time

After the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup triumph, Habana thanked Calder “for making my eyes as fast as my feet”, and even attributed their decline the following year to the decision not to retain her services.

One of her current students – Williams Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas – described seeing every turn he negotiated at July’s German Grand Prix in slow motion, such is the speed of his eye-to-brain response after two years with Calder. He has training sessions throughout the week before using a specific drill on his tablet to prepare his eyes, brain, hands and feet prior to each race.

Since the start of last season, Calder has worked closely with a major European football club. They call her their secret weapon and have been so impressed with the results of her work that they asked her to sign a confidentiality agreement to keep their partnership a secret.

“They had a couple of players who did really well at the World Cup,” she teases.

“We work on how you judge and see in your peripheral vision and how quickly your eyes move to pick up information, how you can see space. A great skill that’s trainable through our programme is timing of runs and cheating the offside line.

“In rugby you receive the ball from one direction and we’ve made such a huge impact, so can you imagine what you can do in football, which is 360 degrees?”

The question remains when and where tomorrow’s footballer will emerge and what exactly they will look like. Simon Clifford believes the game already possesses two early prototypes.

“The footballer of tomorrow will need to be fast and have the athletic qualities to complete repeated sprints throughout the 90 minutes,” he concludes.

“Intelligence is important, to put in the right individual work off the pitch and make decisions on it. Two-footed players will become a given.

“The front of the foot will be used more and more because of how quick the game is – look at some of Gareth Bale’s and [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s poked finishes. They are the closest to the player of the future.”

FA Cup: What you may have missed in the qualifying rounds

30 October 2014 Last updated at 07:32 GMT

838

• Share
• Facebook
• Twitter

• print

Norton’s 2-1 victory over Shildon in an FA Cup fourth-qualifying round replay on Wednesday has completed the line-up for the first round proper.

More than 600 non-league sides have been knocked out since qualifying got under way in August, with just 32 left in the competition.

From a team named after a country to a defender playing like Gordon Banks in goal, BBC Sport looks back at some tales from the qualifying rounds.

Big names beaten already

Former Football League clubs and past giant-killers are some of the sides to have already fallen by the wayside.

Bristol Rovers and Torquay were the two teams relegated to the Conference Premier from League Two last season. Rovers were 7-1 winners at Dorchester Town in the fourth qualifying round but Torquay were beaten 2-0 by Aldershot.

Sutton United once pulled off a famous FA Cup upset by beating then top-flight Coventry in 1989

Stockport County, in the second tier of English football at the turn of the century but now playing in the Conference North, lost 4-2 to Chester City in the fourth qualifying round.

One of the FA Cup’s most famous non-league giant killers failed to make it through.

In 1989, Sutton United beat Coventry City, then in the top tier of English football, 2-1. For 24 years, they held the record as the last non-league side to knock out a top division team – until Luton beat Norwich in 2013. Sutton exited at the third qualifying round stage.

Remember them?

Former England winger Trevor Sinclair retired from football after playing in the 2008 FA Cup final for Cardiff City and almost dusted off his football boots to play in the competition this season.

The 41-year-old, who is assistant manager at Lancaster City, was on bench in the early qualifying rounds for the eighth-tier side, but could not prevent them from losing in the third qualifying round.

Matt Jansen, who played for Blackburn in the Premier League, is currently assistant to ex-Rovers midfielder Garry Flitcroft at Chorley, who lost to Halifax in the fourth qualifying round.

Meanwhile, former Birmingham, QPR and Blackburn striker DJ Campbell, who was playing Championship football a few months ago, is playing for free at Maidenhead United. He scored in this season’s FA Cup but could not help his side reach the first round.

From Dog and Duck to FA Cup

Play media

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

FC Romania realise FA Cup dream

A team named after a country who were playing Sunday League football just a few years ago enjoyed a dream debut in the competition.

FC Romania, formed in 2006 and made up predominantly of Romanian immigrants, entered the competition at the extra preliminary round – the very start of the FA Cup – and overcame Haverhill Rovers, Heybridge Swifts and AFC Sudbury before losing 3-2 to Sutton in the second qualifying round.

Copying Kane with mixed results

A real moment of excitement for spectators is the prospect of seeing an outfield player going in goal but it is a prospect that likely terrifies most footballers – just ask Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

The result can either be unexpected heroics or tremendous embarrassment.

Striker Harry Kane fumbled a shot for Tottenham in the Europa League recently, but had scored a hat-trick before going in goal

In the second qualifying round, defender Jack Lampe went in goal for Concord Rangers, who have progressed all the way to the first round, and helped his side to a 2-0 win against Wealdstone, producing a performance he described as “like Gordon Banks”.

But a stint in goal for Alfreton midfielder Anthony Howell was one to forget.

He let in five goals as his side lost 5-1 to Lincoln City in Tuesday’s fourth qualifying round replay.

FA Cup qualifying in numbers
The qualifying competition had six rounds and lasted for 76 days – 15 August to 29 October. It had 611 ties, one bye, two abandonments, 749 matches, 2,498 goals and 14 penalty shootouts.	The highest score was Molesey 11-0 Haywards Heath Town in the extra preliminary round). Coleshill Town and Maidstone United both recorded 10-0 wins.
Some 612 clubs have already been knocked out of the competition from an original entry of 736	The highest scorers so far are Norton United (19), with Gosport Borough second on 17. Both clubs are in the first round.
The highest attendance was 4,612 for Stockport County v Chester FC and the lowest 27 for London Tigers v FC Clacton.	Karn Miller-Neave scored for Ebbsfleet United at the age of 16 years 183 days.

Wayne Rooney fit but Radamel Falcao out of Manchester derby

31 October 2014 Last updated at 16:40 GMT

120

• Share
• Facebook
• Twitter

• print

Wayne Rooney is fit and will start for Manchester United against Manchester City on Sunday but striker Radamel Falcao remains out through injury.

Manager Louis van Gaal confirmed his captain will play after serving his three-game suspension and said reports he was injured this week were not true.

Colombian Falcao missed the 1-1 draw with Chelsea after receiving a kick in training.

Winger Antonio Valencia is back available after a hamstring injury.

Van Gaal dismissed reports claiming Rooney was a doubt because he had been seen hobbling at a sponsor’s event at Old Trafford on Monday.

“The media was writing that but he was never injured,” he said.

“Maybe his shoes were too tight, that is possible. But he was never injured and he shall play. He is my captain.

“He has scored a lot of goals against City, the most of any player, so I am very happy that he can play, and he shall.”

Dutchman Van Gaal admitted he was looking forward to his first experience of management in the Manchester derby.

“It is difficult, because in Spain we had only a derby against Espanyol,” he added.

“In the Netherlands, we had hardly a derby, or you had to call Ajax and Feyenoord one.

“In Munich, we didn’t have a derby because 1860 Munich weren’t a first division club, so I think this is the biggest derby that I shall manage.

“It’s one of 38 matches, but for the fans it is unbelievably big as a rivalry.

Diego Costa: Chelsea striker set to return against QPR

31 October 2014 Last updated at 13:30 GMT

108

• Share
• Facebook
• Twitter

• print

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is fit for Saturday’s Premier League match against QPR, says manager Jose Mourinho.

The Spain international, who has scored nine goals in seven Premier League games, has missed four matches with a hamstring injury and a viral infection.

The 26-year-old’s absence along with Loic Remy had left Didier Drogba as Chelsea’s only fit striker.

“It’s difficult when you only have one available, but when you have two, the situation improves,” Mourinho said.

Remy remains sidelined with a persistent groin injury, while midfielder John Mikel Obi is also unavailable as top-of-the-table Chelsea prepare for the visit of QPR.

Despite Costa’s return, Mourinho admits he is powerless to limit the striker’s game time for Spain in their forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus on 15 November.

“He played for the national team and we lost him for four matches,” he added.

“Crystal Palace, Maribor, Shrewsbury and Manchester United, four matches in three different competitions.

“Now he is available again, but he needs to be under special care.

“I’m always supportive of players playing for their countries when they are in the condition to do so.

“But I’m nobody to stand in the way of the national team, I can’t stop him going away with his country.”

Lionel Messi more skilful than Cristiano Ronaldo – Fabio Capello

31 October 2014 Last updated at 10:25 GMT

111

• Share
• Facebook
• Twitter

• print

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is “more skilful” than Real Madrid’s 2013 Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, says former England boss Fabio Capello.

Messi, 27, will become La Liga’s all-time top scorer if he scores twice at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Portugal’s Ronaldo, 29, is 10th on the league’s leading scorers list.

“Cristiano is a powerful player, with very good technique, but he does not possess the pure technical skill of Messi,” Capello told AS. 

Head-to-head
Lionel Messi at Barcelona			Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid
Appearances	Goals		Appearances	Goals
284	250	La Liga	173	193
89	69	Champions League	54	55

Messi has scored 250 goals in 284 appearances for Barcelona and is one behind Telmo Zarra’s record for Athletic Bilbao in the 1940s and 1950s.

He has scored seven league goals this season, nine behind Ronaldo’s tally and two behind team-mate Neymar.

Ronaldo and Messi, a four-time winner of Fifa’s World Player of the Year award, are the only active players in La Liga to have scored over 100 goals in Spain’s top domestic league, but Capello believes the latter has the edge in terms of technique.

“Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are two extraordinary players but they are different,” said the Russia manager, who attempted to sign Messi on loan for Juventus in 2005.

“Leo Messi is a very difficult player to play against.

“When I saw Messi play I knew he was special. I could see that he could do things that didn’t occur to other players.”