Lionel Messi sets new Champions League record with goal against Ferencvaros

Lionel Messi extended one Champions League record and set another as he scored a penalty to put Barcelona in front in their Group G opener against Ferencvaros at the Nou Camp.

Messi won a spot-kick with a trademark surge into the box in the 26th minute, being brought down by Adnan Kovacevic.

The Barcelona skipper picked himself and converted the penalty, making the Hungarians the 36th different victims he has scored against in the Champions League - extending a record he already held. 

The goal also meant that Messi has scored in 16 Champions League seasons, a feat only previously achieved by Manchester United wing legend Ryan Giggs. Messi, however, becomes the first player to achieve the stat in consecutive seasons. 

Barcelona survived a scare when Ferencvaros winger Tokmac Nguen rattled the woodwork with an effort in the 20th minute, but went in at half-time 2-0 to the good when teenage sensation Ansu Fati continued his remarkable rise by poking home a cross from Frenkie de Jong on 42 minutes. 

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho added a third seven minutes after the break, but things were not all plain sailing for Barca as they had Gerard Pique sent off after he conceded a penalty, which Ihor Kharatin converted to reduce the deficit.

Despite the hosts being down to 10 men there was no unlikely comeback for Ferencvaros as 17-year-old Pedri and French forward Ousmane Dembele sealed a 5-1 win for the hosts in manager Ronald Koeman's first Champions League game in charge.

Barcelona - minus the suspended Pique - travel to Turin next week to face Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus, before meeting fellow group rivals Dynamo Kiev in Spain.