On This Day: Messi scored Barca 10000th goal; Mou 9-year unbeaten home run began

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (February 23rd) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On This Day in 2016 - Messi Chalked Up Barcelona's 10,000th Goal

On 23rd February 2016, Leo Messi's second goal against Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 was really important for his club's European aims, but also because it was in fact the 10,000th goal that the Catalan giants have scored in competitive games since their very beginnings.

These 10,000 strikes have been garnered from 4,375 matches, making for an average of 2.28 goals per game. 

This was a record that kicked off back in 1901 with the Copa Macaya. Since then, the Catalan club has managed to win 126 trophies. The first was the aforementioned Copa Macaya (1901-02) and the last the Club World Cup that was captured in Japan upon beating River Plate in the final. 

With 440 goals under his belt at that, Messi was and now still is the greatest goalscorer that 'Los Azulgranas' have ever had, way ahead of the likes of César Rodríguez (232), Ladislao Kubala (194), Josep Samitier (184), Josep Escolà (167) and Paulino Alcántara (143).

For now, Messi has scored 582 goals in 667 appearances for Barcelona. This season, Messi has scored 30 goals and sent 14 assists in 31 appearances for Barcelona, the GOAT is still on FIRE on his 32 years old!

23 February 2002 - Special One? That Was True!

On 23 February 2002, visitors Beira Mar defeated hosts Porto 2-3 in a Portuguese top-flight league match. It was Porto's first home loss under new manager José Mourinho, who had taken charge the previous month. It would also be Mourinho's last home loss in a league match until 2011, a run of 150 matches that extended from his time at Porto through his tenure at Chelsea, Inter, and Real Madrid.

While generally regarded as a footnote to Mourinho's record, the match itself was an exciting one. Porto played a man down for most of it, as defender Jorge Andrade was red carded in the 25th minute for a challenge on Beira Mar midfielder Bruno Ribeiro on the edge of the box. Cristiano Rocho scored with the ensuing free kick to put the visitors ahead 1-0. But despite being down to 10 men, Porto equalized with a 42nd-minute goal from striker Benni McCarthy.

Beira Mar striker Fary Faye, who had come on a substitute at the start of the second half, restored the lead for his side in the 51st minute. The situation then got worse for Porto, as midfielder Deco received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 74th minute, reducing the hosts to nine men. Amazingly, however, Mourinho's undermanned Porto again equalized, this time with an 82nd-minute goal from midfielder Carlos Paredes. But in the dying moments, Beira Mar overran Porto's depleted midfield, allowing Fary to score his second goal of the match in the 85th minute to give his side the 2-3 win.

Mourinho remained with Porto through the 2003-04 season, before moving to Chelsea in June 2004. After leaving Chelsea in September 2007, he took some time off before moving to Inter in June 2008. His unbeaten run includes 66 matches at Chelsea, setting a Premier League record that the club extended to 86 under Mourinho's successors Avram Grant (2007-08) and Luiz Felipe Scolari (2008-09). Porto's streak, meanwhile, ended eleven matches into the 2004-05 season with a 1-0 loss to Boavista on 20 November. It was their sixth home match under new manager Victor Fernández.

The streak ended on 2 April 2011, when Real Madrid team lost at home to Sporting de Gijón.

On This Day in 2013 - Giggsy Scored Last Man Utd goal

As far as appearances for Manchester United go, no player in the club's history can better Ryan Giggs's tally of 963 outings.

And, while his return of 168 goals is someway short of Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 249, only six players have found the net on more occasions for the Red Devils than the Welshman.

He scored his first goal in United colours as a teenager during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford back in 1991, with his last coming at the age of 39 nearly 22 years later.

It was in fact at Loftus Road two years ago today that Giggs found the net for the final time in his career.

United, who were heading for the Premier League title, were already 1-0 in front thanks to right-back Rafael da Silva, who broke the deadlock during the first half with a stunning strike from distance.

Hosting Queens Park Rangers had chances to draw themselves level as the encounter wore on, but it was Giggs that made sure of the outcome 10 minutes from time.

In the build-up, Danny Welbeck rolled the ball to full-back Patrice Evra, with the Frenchman in turn playing it into the path of Nani on the edge of the QPR box.

That was Giggs's cue to move in behind centre-backs Christopher Samba and Clint Hill and his run was picked out perfectly by the Portuguese playmaker.

Then, as the angle was narrowed by advancing home goalkeeper Julio Cesar, the veteran midfielder, who was making his 999th appearance for club and country, clinically fired his shot across the face of goal and into the far corner of the net.

As Giggs celebrated in front of the travelling supporters with his teammates in West London, little did anyone know that it would be the last time that he got his name on the scoresheet before his retirement in the summer of 2014.

However, he did go ever so close to scoring a second goal against the R's in the closing stages when his chipped effort cannoned against the crossbar.

After the final whistle, QPR manager Harry Redknapp said of Giggs: "He's just an amazing player - a great professional [and] top drawer."

On This Day in 1992 - Casimiro Was Born

Carlos Casimiro was born 23 February 1992. Happy Birthday to Casimiro!

As a Brazilian footballer, Casimiro plays as a defensive midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Brazil national team.

Formed at São Paulo, where he scored 11 goals in 112 official games, he moved to Real Madrid in 2013, and also spent a season on loan at Porto. He was part of the Real Madrid squad that won four Champions Leagues, from 2013–14 to 2017–18.

A full international since 2011, Casemiro was in Brazil's squad at the 2015 and 2016 Copa América tournaments as well as the 2018 World Cup.

On This Day in 1997 - Wenger's First Signing: Nicolas Anelka

On 23rd February, Arsene Wenger made his first ever signing as Arsenal manager exactly 22 years ago on Monday when he brought 17-year-old striker Nicolas Anelka to the club from PSG.

Anelka was Wenger's very first signing for Arsenal and the young French striker went on to top score for the club in the 1998-99 season with 17 Premier League goals.

He earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award but fans turned on him because of a perceived poor attitude and Wenger sold Anelka to Real Madrid for £22m.

23 February 2008 - Eduardo's Bad Break

On 23 February 2008, Arsenal striker Eduardo suffered an injury that put him out for a year and possibly derailed the club's season.

At the time, Arsenal were at the top of the table, riding a ten-game unbeaten streak that had seen them take 26 of 30 available points to pull five clear of Manchester United. Eduardo, playing in his first season since moving from Dinamo Zagreb in July, had made sixteen league appearances, mostly as a substitute, but was rounding into form after Christmas.

The Gunners were away at Birmingham City when, in the third minute, a challenge from Blues captain Martin Taylor snapped Eduardo's left fibula and dislocated his left ankle. The injuries were so graphic that the BBC declined to show replays of the incident, while players from both teams were visibly distraught at the sight.

Medical staff took the striker directly to the hospital. The match eventually resumed and played out as a scoreless draw, with neither team showing much inspiration to continue. It was the first of four consecutive league draws for the Gunners, who took only three points from their next four matches and slipped down to third, which is where they finished the year.

Eduardo returned the following February, but made only four appearances that season, though he scored three times. He eventually moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in July 2010. That October, he returned to the Emirates with his new team in the Champions League and scored his team's only goal in a 5-1 loss, drawing applause from the home supporters.

23 February 2000 - The Late Great Stanley Matthews

On 23 February 2000, Stanley Matthews, winner of the first Ballon d'Or, passed away at the age of 85.

A winger who is widely considered one of the greatest players in football history, Matthews acquired a long list of accomplishments over the course of his 33-year career, which he spent with only two clubs, Stoke City (1932-47, 1961-65) and Blackpool (1947-61). In all, he made a total of 783 appearances and scored 80 goals. But he won only one major trophy, claiming the 1953 FA Cup with Blackpool with an outstanding performance that led the game being called "the Matthews Final."

He came close twice before, reaching the FA Cup Final with Blackpool in 1948 and 1951, and also finished as league runners-up in 1956, the year he won the inaugural Ballon d'Or as Europe's greatest player. The following year, he was made a Commander of the British Empire, becoming the first (and so far only) English footballer to be knighted while still an active player.

Matthews also starred at the international level, making 54 England appearances and winning nine British Home Championships (three of which were shared titles).

His dedication to fitness and training sustained his career so that, at 50, he became the oldest player to appear in the English top flight. He is also the oldest person ever to play for England, making his last appearance at the age of 42 years, 104 days.

Upon his death in 2000, testimonials flew in from all around the world, including comments from Pelé, who said that Matthews "taught us the way football should be played" and Berti Vogts, who said "All over the world, he is regarded as a true football genius."

On This Day in 1988 - Gaitan was Born

Nicolas Gaitan was born 23 February 1988. 

Gaitan is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Chinese club Dalian Yifang and the Argentina national team, mainly as an attacking midfielder.

A product of Boca Juniors, he joined Benfica in Portugal, where he won three Primeira Liga titles, one Taça de Portugal, five Taça da Liga and one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in six seasons. Then he joined Atletico Madrid for €25 million.

On 26 February 2018, along with teammate Yannick Carrasco, Gaitán joined Chinese Super League newcomers Dalian Yifang, which was also hold by Atlético Madrid's partial owner Wanda Group.