Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to become Barcelona’s all-time top scorer as they warmed up for next weekend’s El Clasico against Real Madrid with a 7-0 victory over Osasuna that put them four points off the top of La Liga.
The Argentine now has 371 goals for Barca in all matches including friendlies, and beat the record of Paulino Alcantara, who played for the club between 1912 and 1927, and notched up 369 goals.
“As long as the people want me here I will stay here.
“My intention is to retire with the Barcelona shirt,” Messi told reporters.
Looking ahead to the Clasico, he added: “Hopefully we can play a good game. We know it will be difficult but we will do our best to fight for the league until the end.”
Brazilian Neymar was a surprise absentee from the starting line-up in a win that left Barca on 66 points from 28 matches, four behind Real Madrid and one behind Atletico Madrid who beat Espanyol 1-0 on Saturday.