For Real Madrid, the prospect of facing Lionel Messi on Wednesday evening remains as daunting as ever.

Los Blancos have kept just one clean sheet in their last six games in all competitions and what's more, they know better than anyone what it is to suffer at the feet of the Greatest of All Time. 

The stakes are, of course, particularly high with the two sides level on points at the top of La Liga.

Tomorrow night's impact on their head-to-head record could be conclusive come the end of the season.

Even when the Blauagrana have not looked at their best this season, their talisman has dragged them to the summit with 17 goals and nine assists. 

Historically, Real have never been spared his exploits either.

Messi holds a number of El Clasico records, as mentioned in AS, many of which are not going to be beaten any time soon, or perhaps ever. 

Most El Clasico goals

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored 26 goals against Madrid. The closest anyone has come to that feat were Real Madrid legends Alfredi Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo, who both scored 18 apiece against Barcelona.

Most assists 

The Argentine has also set up his teammates 14 times. That might explain why Barcelona have won just one Clasico without him since his debut in 2004; that came in October 2018 when he missed out with an arm injury but they still triumphed 5-1. 

Youngest goalscorer

Now 32, Messi was just 19 years, eight months and 14 days old when he first slipped the ball past Iker Casillas. That is one record that could be broken this week now that the likes of Ansu Fati and Madrid pair Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. are starting to break through. 

Most hat-tricks (joint) 

Only six players have scored two hat-tricks in El Clasico and inevitably, Messi is one of them. Luis Suarez, Jaime Lazcano, Santiago Bernabéu, Paulino Alcántara and Ferenc Puskas are the others. His first hat-trick came in 2007. 

Most goals against Real Madrid 

Particularly impressive as this record isn't just confined to El Clasico. No player in history has scored as many goals against Barca's eternal rivals as Messi. 

Most appearances (joint) 

OK, so Messi has not achieved this one just yet, but he is set to equal Xavi's record of 43 games against Real Madrid barring a last-minute mishap ruling him out. 

There is very little history left for Messi to make, though he is hunting down the most El Clasico wins by a single player in history. He currently has 19 and is two away. 

It seems plausible that very soon, there will simply be no more milestones left for him to achieve.