MADRID, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona striker Leo Messi became the foreign player to make the most appearances in the Spanish Football League (La Liga) when he took his place in the side for Barca's 2-2 draw at home to Girona on Sunday night.

The game was Messi's 423rd appearance in Spain with all of his appearances for Barca, whom he joined as a 13-year-old.

Prior to the match Messi had been level with former Barca teammate Dani Alves, who made 422 league appearances for Barcelona and Sevilla before leaving the Camp Nou to sign for Juventus and then moving on to Paris Saint Germain.

Messi made his debut as a 16-year-old on October 16, 2004 when he was a second half substitute in a 1-0 win away to Espanyol and since then he has had a couple of coaches at the club - Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, Tata Martino, Jordi Roura and current boss Ernesto Valverde.

Messi's 423 league games have seen him score an all-time record 386 goals (including one on Sunday) and have brought Barca 320 wins, 66 draws and 37 defeats.