Lionel Messi: Barcelona and Argentina captain scores 51st hat-trick and the stats are sensational

Lionel Messi: Barcelona and Argentina captain scores 51st hat-trick and the stats are sensational
As the ball clipped the underside of the crossbar and hit the back of the Real Betis net, the home supporters at the Benito Villamarn Stadium rose as one to applaud.Some even bowed to acknowledge the maestro, simply a joy to watch when he is in such form.Lionel Messi continues to defy description after yet another stunning hat-trick3
Lionel Messi continues to defy description after yet another stunning hat-trick
Lionel Messi had just scored his 51st hat-trick for club and country and even the most ardent Betis supporter was left in awe.After a scorching free-kick and a clinical finish in the first-half, Messi capped off a wonderful personal display on Sunday night with an impudent chip which very few players would even consider trying.12 years ago at the Camp Nou, as a teenage prodigy the Argentina international scored his first treble. The stage was none other than a potentially La Liga-deciding Clasico, but Messi was as composed as the veteran we see gliding past defenders at will to this very day.Since that day in March 2007, the 31-year-old has returned eight hat-tricks in the UEFA Champions League, 33 in the league, three in the Copa del Rey, one in the Spanish Super Cup and a further six at international level.Messi acknowledges the Betis fans as they give him a standing ovation3
Messi acknowledges the Betis fans as they give him a standing ovation
With the league potentially already decided and with Manchester United up next in Europe, there is still plenty of time for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to add to his collection of match balls.Below, talkSPORT.com takes a look at the incredible numbers behind Messi’s haul of hat-tricks.
  • Messi’s 33 Liga trebles are second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 34, so overhauling the Portuguese now plying his trade with Juventus in Serie Ais a realistic ambition for the Blaugrana ace.
  • Valencia, Osasuna, Espanyol and Deportivo have been Messi’s favoured opponents in La Liga, the No.10 claiming hat-tricks against each of them on three separate occasions (he has a Copa del Rey treble against Valencia too); Messi also has three hat-tricks against Sevilla, including two in the Liga and one in the Spanish Super Cup, and three against Atltico two Liga and one Copa del Rey.
Messi and Ronaldo continue to produce incredible moments on a football pitch3
Messi and Ronaldo continue to produce incredible moments on a football pitch
  • At international level, the most crucial of Messi’s six Argentina hat-tricks came in Ecuador in October 2017, his triple strike securing the Albiceleste a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
  • Messi’s club-mate Surez boasts an outstanding hat-trick return: the Uruguayan plundered nine for Ajax, six for Liverpool (three of them against Norwich) and has 12 for Barcelona as well as a further two for his nation.
  • Three other South Americans Sergio Aguero, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao have reached double figures for hat-tricks in recent years, while the relentless Robert Lewandowski leads the European charge.


Dele Alli is a regular starter under Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham

Manchester United vs Manchester City predictions: After a disappointing exit from the Champions League, Manchester City managed a hard-fought to regain the title and with the Red Devils in
3 reasons why Manchester United will outclass Manchester City

Bale was booed by some of his own supporters as he came on against Barcelona

Former Blackpool midfielder Andrea Orlandi has retired from football at the age of 34 due to a heart issue. READ MORE: Blackpool youngster Fin Sinclair-Smith seals short-term loan move to Widnes
Former Brighton, Swansea and Blackpool midfielder forced to

Robert Lewandowski (7), Thomas Muller (4), and James Rodriguez (3)

Al-Nasr vs Arsenal team news: Confirmed Gunners line-up for mid-season friendly as Denis Suarez makes first start Unai Emery has selected a strong starting XI for Tuesday afternoon's friendly in Dubai
FINALLY Al-Nasr vs Arsenal team news: Confirmed Gunners line

Zidane has returned to Madrid

The top 50 most valuable players in world football including Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah The CIES Football Observatory has developed an algorithm to determine the value of the best
The 20 Most Valuable Players in World Football Right Now

Mourinho has been allowed to buy a new defender in January

~ Lionel Messi: Every record the Barcelona superstar has broken in 2019 ~ Kenya Latest Every record the Barcelona superstar has broken in 2019 ~ Kenya Latest.
Lionel Messi Every record the Barcelona superstar has broken

Benzema looks dejected as Real Madrid lose.

Liverpool news: The one reason Reds will BEAT Napoli and qualify for last 16 - Ian Rush LIVERPOOL have the defensive quality to stop Napoli from scoring in the Champions League clash at Anfield on
Liverpool's season will explode into life with Champions

Thousands of supporters lined the streets of Glasgow to pay their final respects
Heavy snow could cause the postponement of a Premier League fixture this week.
Liverpool vs Leicester 'in doubt' due to bad weather and snow

Suarez is set to complete a move to the Emirates

Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic has put a number of clubs on alert after stating that he wants to leave the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer. Opportunities have been few and far between in the Los Blancos team and the 24-year-old only featured in 21 games in La Liga last season.

Luke Shaw – 8

'SPY' DOCTORS Sir Alex Ferguson's medical notes were 'illicitly accessed by senior medics NOT on his team' Ex-boss Sir Alex, 76, was rushed to hospital in May with a brain haemorrhage
Medics 'spied on' Sir Alex Ferguson when he was fighting for

Willian was withdrawn due to injury during Chelsea’s draw with Southampton

Rafael van der Vaart was left speechless following Tottenham's last visit to Real Madrid but he believes Spurs now hold the trump card his team lacked back in 2011.
Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham reaction Harry Redknapp hails 'top

Salah’s involement in last year’s Champions League final was cruelly cut short through injury
Harry Kane injury: Tottenham striker pictured on the training

Unai Emery is desperate to be reunited with Denis Suarez at Arsenal
Premier League 2018/19 final table: Super Computer predicts

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are an outside bet in the Premier League title race

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appointed Manchester United manager: Full transcript of first press conference, featuring transfers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Virgil van Dijk.
FULL TRANSCRIPT: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first quotes as

Bournemouth have had a generally good season so far

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery hailed Aaron Ramsey's "awesome" display as the Gunners defeated Napoli 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
Aaron Ramsey confirms he has played final game for Arsenal

Gianfranco Zola expects Chelsea fans to behave themselves against Spurs
Liverpool team news: Injured Naby Keita recovering ahead of

Post a Comment

0 Comments