Barcelona and Luis Suarez lead AP Global Football 10

It’s not his first milestone and won’t be the last, as it came six years after he scored the club’s 9,000th against Almeria in March 2010. The squad is just two points above relegation after a rough stretch saw them win just once in nine games.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates with team mate Adriano after scoring a goal.

Messi, the usual taker, had deferred to Neymar on previous occasions this season, but both had poor recent records from the spot and Luis Suarez was on a hat-trick. Instead, he took a touch to the side, leaving two men on the back foot, and found the bottom-left corner.

However, Suarez took over in the final half hour as he swept home Messi’s fine through ball and before prodding home from point-blank range.

“Back then we never thought that we would eventually get to where we are now”, said Abelardo, a former central defender. A left-footed toe-poke later, and it was in the roof of the net.

Barcelona will consider what is best for Neymar when they decide whether to release their Brazilian star for the Olympic soccer tournament at the Rio Games – just as they did for Lionel Messi in 2008, coach Luis Enrique said on Friday. Suarez has scored 5 goals each in the Copa del Rey, Club World Cup and Champions League so far this season.

Goal’s Ignasi Oliva reported in January that Messi’s annual salary will increase next season from €22 million (£17.1 million) to €42 million (£32.6 million) after he agreed to delay his next pay rise until 2016 following a contract extension nearly two years ago. Dani Alves has helped him the most with 26 assists, while Atletico Madrid are his favourite opponents with 21 goals against them. The 75 passes he attempted in the 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon in midweek clearly exemplify that his area of influence is no longer limited to the final metres, but spread all over the park in an attempt to get his teammates involved on a far more regular basis, keeping rivals chasing shadows as a result.

Xerez, though, can boast that they are the only team to have faced Messi a couple of times in La Liga without conceding to him.

Eighty-three of those goals were notched between the 76th and 90th minute which outlines his endeavor and refusal to give up. Compare that to the others – 0-15 minutes (32 goals), 16-30 (48), 31-45 (44), 46-60 (47), 61-75 (47) – and it’s remarkable how relentless he is.

Undoubtedly, the extraordinary progression of Neymar and impact of Luis Suarez have been decisive factors in the No.10’s progression.