Barcelona player Lionel Messi celebrated after scoring during the match with APOEL in Nicosia, Cyprus, on November 25, 2014. Barcelona won 4-0. Photo: Xinhua

 
Leo Messi made football history for the second time in four days on Tuesday night thanks to the hat- trick he scored in FC Barcelona's 4-0 win away to APOEL Nicosia.

The Argentinean had started the game as the joint highest goalscorer in the history of the Champions League with 71 goals; the same as former Real Madrid striker Raul Gonzalez and one more than Cristiano Ronaldo.

His hat-trick has lifted him to 74 goals to make him the highest ever scorer in the competition, although Ronaldo will have the chance to close the gap when Real Madrid play Basel on Wednesday night.

Messi' European record comes after his hat-trick on Saturday night saw him overtake Telmo Zarra's record of 251 goals to also become the highest ever scorer in the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga.

Messi has now scored 253 goals in the Spanish League and will look to that tally when his side play Valencia this coming weekend.