Messi Sets Another Record in Spain as Barcelona Loses Points

Messi, the league’s all-time leading scorer, overtook former teammate Dani Alves by appearing in his 423rd game.

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi reacts after missing an opportunity during their Spanish La Liga match against Girona at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday.

(Photo: AP)

Lionel Messi set the record for the most Spanish league appearances by a non-Spanish player on Sunday, but the Argentine's goal couldn't prevent 10-man Barcelona from dropping its first points of the season in a 2-2 draw with Girona.

Messi, the league’s all-time leading scorer, overtook former teammate Dani Alves of Brazil by appearing in his 423rd game.

Messi gave Barcelona the lead before Clement Lenglet was given a red card in the first half.

Girona striker Christian Stuani struck twice for the visitors before Barcelona salvaged a point through Gerard Pique's goal in the 63rd.

Referee Gil Manzano showed Lenglet a direct red card for elbowing Girona's Pere Pons in the face. Manzano made the ruling after consulting the video monitor to review the contact between the players.

"It's clear that the sending off swung the match," said Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde.

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (left) duels for the ball against Girona’s Douglas Luiz during their Spanish La Liga match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. 

Valverde took responsibility for not sending on center back Samuel Umtiti on sooner to fill the hole left by Lenglet that Stuani took advantage off to get his first goal just before halftime.

"You are planning to do something but you wait, and then ... you regret it all. I thought we had the match under control," Valverde said.

Barcelona had won all its previous four rounds of the Spanish league, its Champions League opener and the Spanish Super Cup.

Its first setback of the season left Barcelona level with Real Madrid at the top of the league on 13 points.

Messi put Barcelona ahead in the 19th when he used his left boot to stab in a pass from Arturo Vidal after the midfielder had won the ball.

Messi had already gone close to scoring what would have been a brilliant goal when he dribbled around three defenders, sending two of them to the turf, before his low shot was tipped wide by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

The Argentina forward also hit the cross bar with a free kick before Pique made up for his sluggish defending on both of Stuani's goals by heading Barcelona level.