Messi nets in Barca's 3-0 Eibar win to inch closer to becoming La Liga all-time record scorer

Argentina football team captain Lionel Messi moved to within two goals of becoming La Liga's all-time record goalscorer after he netted in Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Eibar.

After a goalless first half, Messi's through-ball found Xavi, who chipped keeper Xabi Iruretagoiena to put the league leaders ahead after an hour. Brazil striker Neymar volleyed in Dani Alves's chip to double Barca's advantage.

Messi made it 3-0 in the 74th minute after racing through the Eibar defence for his 250th La Liga goal, The BBC reported.

Messi is one behind Telmo Zarra's record for Athletic Bilbao in the 1940s and 1950s and the Argentine would break the record if he scores two goals or more in next Saturday's game against arch-rivals Real Madrid, the first El Clasico of the season.

The season's first El Clasico is expected to mark striker Luis Suarez's first competitive game in a Barca shirt after serving a ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay's 2014 World Cup group match in Brazil in June.

Suarez will feature for a Barcelona side that has dropped just two points all season and has yet to concede a goal in eight La Liga games at the start of the season, a league record, the report added.