Robert Lewandowski joins Lionel Messi in exclusive club after scoring Barcelona's crucial winning goal against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga

Barcelona secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at Montjuïc, courtesy of a first-half penalty by Lewandowski. It was his 20th strike in the Spanish top-flight this season, which propelled Hansi Flick's men to the top of the table with both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid dropping points over the weekend.

It turned out to be a milestone goal for Lewandowski as it helped the Polish striker match Barcelona legends Messi, Luis Suarez, and Samuel Eto'o as only the fourth player to reach 20 goals in just 23 games of a La Liga season this century. While Messi reached this mark in 11 consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2020, Suarez accomplished it in three of his six seasons with the club, while Eto'o recorded 23 goals in his first 23 matches during the 2008-09 campaign.

It has been reported that Lewandowski has already agreed to a contract extension with Barcelona, ensuring his presence until the summer of 2026. Despite now being in his mid-thirties, his performance remains exceptional, with 32 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions this season. Notably, he is also the joint-top scorer in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, with nine goals to his name.

Lewandowski's consistent scoring has positioned him as the frontrunner for the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to La Liga's top scorer. His 20 league goals place him three ahead of his closest competitor, Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid. He will be looking to further add to his tally when Barcelona travel to Las Palmas for their next La Liga fixture on Saturday evening.