Messi poised to roar past Raul

Barcelona's superstar striker equals all-time CL scoring mark against Ajax

Lionel Messi equaled Real Madrid legend Raul as the top scorer in the history of the Champions League with 71 goals after scoring twice in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday.

The Argentine headed Barca in front nine minutes before halftime and then prodded home Pedro Rodriguez's low cross to match Raul's mark 15 minutes from time in his 90th appearance in the competition.

Former Real Madrid and Schalke striker Raul took 142 matches to reach his tally.

"The record wasn't the goal for today; that was the three points that qualified us for the next round and that's why we are leaving feeling happy," Messi told Canal Plus television.

"We played against a team that plays well and, if you let them, moves you from one side of the pitch to the other. It was difficult for us to pressure them because of their mobility but we took advantage of the chances we got. Later, they went down to 10, but in general the match was even."

Messi now leads Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo by one goal after the Portuguese failed to find the net against Liverpool on Tuesday.

Victory ensured Barca's place in the last 16 but it remains one point behind French champion Paris Saint-Germain in the battle for first place in Group F.

"The most important thing was to qualify and keep fighting for our objective which is to win the group and therefore we need to keep competing with PSG," said Messi.

Messi is on the verge of also becoming the all-time top scorer in La Liga history as he is just one goal short of Telmo Zarra's 251-goal mark that has stood since 1955.

The four-time World Player of the Year made his Champions League debut against Udinese in 2004 and has won the Champions League three times with Barca, in 2005-06, 2008-09 and 2010-11.

Messi scored in those latter triumphs against Manchester United and said those were the pick of his goals in European soccer's premier club competition.

"I don't know if there is one in particular I remember but the ones in the finals are always special," he said.

While Messi celebrated, it was a frustrating night for Luis Suarez on his return to the side where he made his name during a four-year spell before joining Liverpool in 2011.

The Uruguayan passed up a great chance to register his first goal for Barca when he was denied by Ajax 'keeper Jasper Cillessen early in the second half but Messi remains confident Suarez will deliver plenty of goals for the Catalans.

"The truth is we are happy with Luis and he is happy with us. He is adapting to our philosophy and it is only his third game with us.

"We expect a lot of him and I am sure he will give us that in time," said Messi.