On This Day in Football: Messi reaches Barca milestone

On this day in 2010, Lionel Messi scored his 100^th goal for Barcelona and became the youngest player in the club’s history to reach that milestone.

Barcelona met Sevilla in a league encounter, having already played them twice and losing out in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey in the previous month. The scores remained 0-0 in the first half before Barca took the lead through an own goal by Julien Escude. Pedro struck in the 70^th minute to double his side’s lead.

Then came Messi’s turn as he put the ball in the back of the net from just outside the six-yard box to score his 100^th goal for the club. At just 22 years, six months and 22 days, the Argentina international became the youngest player to reach a century of goals for the Catalan club. He scored again in the injury time to hand Barca a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Zola scores magic goal

On this day in 2002, Gianfranco Zola scored a superb back heeled goal as Chelsea beat Norwich City 4-0 in the FA Cup.

With the two sides drawing the third round tie 0-0 at Carrow Road, Stamford Bridge hosted the replay. The hosts did not waste any time to punish Norwich as Mario Stanic scored in the 11^th minute to give his side the lead. Frank Lampard scored in the 56^th minute to double Chelsea’s lead.

Then in the 63d minute, a Graeme Le Saux corner into the box saw Zola meet it in midair and produce a moment of brilliance by back heeling it past Rob Green and establishing a 3-0 lead.

The fourth goal came from Mikael Forssell as Chelsea advanced to the next round. The Blues eventually lost the final to Arsenal.