Lionel Messi often coasts by his opponents in a blur of frenetic limbs, slaloming in and out of focus ferociously.

But the mark that the little Argentine is leaving on football, game after game, is clear and indelible.

Frequently in their almost neck for neck goal glut last season, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo seemed almost dialled in.

The Real Madrid ace appeared to be the only man in football on La Pulga Atomica’s wavelength, and they frequently registered the same goal stats- liked shared braces or hat-tricks- uncannily.

This weekend, CR7 and Messi looked like they were reading from the same script again, after Ronaldo scored his 20th hat-trick for Real Madrid.

Until Messi plundered four goals against 10-man Osasuna, that is.

And in that one goal difference, lies all the difference in the world.

And so yet again, the week must begin with another assessment of Messi’s ridiculous feats in front of goal.

In helping runaway La Liga leaders Barca get back to winning ways, La Pulga Atomica reached 33 goals for the season. At just over the halfway mark, he is on track to reach, or better, the record for most goals in a season he set last time out (50).

Messi has now scored more goals by himself than every other team in the Spanish top flight this season, except from second and third-placed Atletico and Real Madrid.

He has also become the first player in La Liga history to score for 11 consecutive games.

And at just 25-years-old, Messi is the youngest player in Spanish history to score 200 goals at the highest level.

After the match last night, Messi was characteristically focused on what Barca’s display meant in the context of their season.

"The important thing was to get through the match because when so much is being said about the 'Clasico' [against Real Madrid this week in the Copa Del Rey] it's not easy," Messi said.

"We came out the same way as always and we achieved our goal."