Lionel Messi fails to register shot on goal 'for first time in 117 games'

Lionel Messi failed to register a shot on goal for the first time in 117 games for club and country on Thursday evening, according to reports.

The Argentina striker played the full 90 minutes and captained his side to the 2-1 win over Chile in World Cup Qualifying in Santiago, but according to ESPN FC, did not attempt a shot. 

He did however contribute to the winner, producing a lovely flick for team-mate Gabriel Mercado to slot home for 2-1 after just 25 minutes played.

Messi has averaged six shots on goal per game in the Champions League this season and nearly five per game in La Liga, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's 8.9 per game in the Champions League, and 6.3 in La Liga.

The 28-year-old has scored 37 goals in 38 games for Barcelona in all competitions this season and has averaged a goal every 1.03 games for his club over the past three seasons.

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Image: Lionel Messi has averaged a goal every 1.66 games for Argentina in the past three years

That record far exceeds his goalscoring form for the national team, where he has scored a goal every 1.66 games since 2013.

Argentina are now fourth in the 10-team qualification group for South America for the 2018 World Cup.

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"This team leaves everything in every game and we [played] before a tough opponent and a tough pitch," Messi told reporters after the game

"We had the personality to get up after going 1-0 down against an opponent who is not easy.

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