Lionel Messi reached his 500th goal for Barcelona in spectacular fashion when he netted the match-winner in stoppage time in the EL Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.

WATCH: Messi’s match-winning goal for Barcelona

Real Madrid went ahead in the 28th minute through Casemiro, and then fell behind after goals by Messi and Ivan Rakitic.

James Rodriguez equalised for the 10-men of Real after Sergio Ramos saw red. However, Messi stole the headlines when he netted a stoppage-time winner to seal the win and blow the La Liga title race wide open with a thrilling 3-2 win on Sunday.

The result leaves Barcelona top of La Liga standings, level on points with Real, having played a game more than their fierce rivals.

The Argentine international has broken numerous records in his time with the club, but his latest feat will likely be the hardest for any other player to overcome.

With his two goals against Madrid, Messi once again showed his lethal nature in front of goal, racking up his fifth century of strikes en route to an exhilarating 3-2 win, while also claiming his 31st goal in the La Liga this season.

Messi couldn’t have chosen a better setting to reach his latest milestone at the home of rivals Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, and what makes the record even more special is the fact that he has managed it in only 577 games.

His goals have been spread across all the competitions he has played in, 341 in La Liga, 94 in Champions League, 43 Copa del Rey goals, 12 in the Spanish Super Cup, five in the Club World Cup and three in the European Super Cup.

This season, he has already netted 47 goals, and has already surpassed his tally of 41 from the previous season. Messi has now made it nine consecutive seasons in which he has scored 40 or more goals, and with this brace against Real, he has scored 14 times against Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Image: Barcelona website