Lionel Messi set a new record on Tuesday as he netted the eighth Champions League hat-trick of his career as Barcelona claimed a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven.
The Argentinian striker has now scored more trebles in the competition than anyone else, having surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of seven.
Here, Press Association Sport’s James Cowen takes a closer look at each of those achievements.
April 6, 2010: Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1 (quarter-final second leg)
November 1, 2011: Viktoria Plzen 0 Barcelona 4 (group stage)
Viktoria Plzen had no answer to Barcelona and Messi with the Spanish giants taking a commanding 4-0 win in the Czech Republic. A penalty decision against the hosts allowed Messi to score the opener, while two well-worked goals followed from the five times FIFA player of the year – either side of a Cesc Fabregas effort – which took his goal tally over 200 goals for Barca.
March 7, 2012: Barcelona 7 Bayer Leverkusen 1 (last-16 second leg)
September 18, 2013: Barcelona 4 Ajax 0 (group stage)
Messi was in unstoppable form against Ajax, delivering a masterclass hat-trick against the Dutch side. A well-hit free-kick in the first half was followed by two skilful goals in the second to leave Ajax helpless at the Nou Camp.
November 25, 2014: Apoel Nicosia 0 Barcelona 4 (group stage)
A finely-tuned Barcelona team delivered a dominant performance over Apoel Nicosia, with Messi scoring three well-worked goals. The Argentina magician’s fifth hat-trick in the Champions League ensured he surpassed former Real Madrid striker Raul’s tally of 71 goals in the competition.
September 13, 2016: Barcelona 7 Celtic 0 (group stage)
October 19, 2016: Barcelona 4 Manchester City 0 (group stage)
Manchester City took the fight to Barcelona in the first half, with Messi only able to put one goal past the Premier League champions thanks to a moment of poor defending. Two more from Messi – midway through the second half – followed, giving him his seventh hat-trick in the Champions League.
September 18, 2018: Barcelona 4 PSV Eindhoven 0 (group stage)
And #Messi said, Let there be a goal: and there was a goal. pic.twitter.com/7ydlC9fSwU
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 18, 2018
Messi’s eighth and most recent hat-trick came against PSV, with the Argentinian firing the opener with a well-struck free-kick that curled into the top-right corner. A nicely-timed volley in the second half completed his brace – and Ousmane Dembele got on the scoresheet with a top-class solo goal – before Messi scored his third late on.
