Messi sets Spanish record

DONESTK, Ukraine - Barcelona's Argentine wizard Lionel Messi set a new club record on Tuesday, netting his 48th goal of the season in the 1-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk which took his side through to the Champions League semifinals.

Messi's first-half effort not only completed a resounding 6-1 aggregate success and gave him his tournament-leading ninth strike of the campaign, but also moved him past the previous club mark of former star Ronaldo, who managed 47 in the 1996-97 season, his sole campaign in the Catalan club's colors.

If he can score again - and Barca's next match is against Real next weekend - he will equal the all-time Spanish record held by Real's late Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas, achieved in 1959-60.