Barcelona's Lionel Messi scores from a penalty shot against Viktoria Pilsen during their Champions League Group H soccer match in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (AP2011)
Lionel Messi breached the 200-goal mark for his FC Barcelona career when he completed his second straight hat trick in a 4-0 win at Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday night, advancing the club to the Champions League knockout stage.
The Argentine striker, who has had a stellar career in Europe, scored the goal during a penalty kick at the 23rd minute mark and followed it by adding two more goals in the match.
Messi is considered by many to be the best soccer player in the world, winning the FIFA Player of the Year title in 2009 and 2010 as well as leading Barcelona to three Champions League titles and five La Liga titles since turning pro in 2003.
Despite his remarkable statistics in club play, the 24-year old has been criticized for being unable to produce goals and lead Argentina's national team to any great success in international play. Messi remained quiet on field when Argentina was booted from last year's World Cup after a 4-0 thumping in the quarterfinals to a strong German squad.
Last week, the country's national team lost in the finals of the Pan American games to the host country of Mexico, but Messi was not on the roster.
Back in Europe, Italy's AC Milan also advanced with a 1-1 tie at BATE Borisov, but the U.K.'s Arsenal and Chelsea were held to draws and will have to wait until their final two games to earn a spot in the second round.
Jonas scored the second-fastest goal in Champions League history, 10 seconds into Valencia's 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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