Lionel Messi has scored yet another La Liga hat-trick and the 49th of his illustrious career as Barcelona secured an emphatic 5-0 win over Levante to take them back to the top of La Liga.
The Argentine's first goal of the night came after he was played through one-on-one after a sublime ball from Sergio Busquets sent him scampering away towards the opposition’s goal. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Messi would score this chance and he duly obliged with a cool right-footed finish past the helpless goalkeeper.
His second of the night came after another flowing Barcelona attack as he clinically swept home Barca’s third and his second goal of the evening from just inside the box. "The cleanest of finishes, from the best on the planet” the commentators purred as they were treated to yet another lethal display of finishing from the Argentine who is enjoying a spectacular start to the 2018/19 season.
The hat-trick was completed in the second half with a brilliant team goal. Luis Suarez pulled off a savage nutmeg on the left wing before playing the ball across with the outside of his foot to Arturo Vidal, who cleverly squared the ball to Lionel Messi who was left with the simplest of finishes from just six yards out.
Gerard Pique added a fifth to give Barcelona a three-point cushion at the top of La Liga, now three points clear of their nearest rivals Sevilla. Witness for yourself another wonderful Messi hat-trick down below.
Do not allow Lionel Messi to go one-on-one with your goalkeeper, it never ends well ⚠️⚠️
Goal and assist so far this evening for Messi... 😅
"The cleanest of finishes, from the best on the planet." 🌏
Lionel Messi is a man in form, and he's just put Barcelona 3-0 up!
Lionel Messi has his hat-trick! 🐐
That nutmeg and pass from Luis Suarez was sublime 😍