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.3
51 career hattricks for Messi What a way to get it pic.twitter.com/1bIKQukV2i— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 17, 201912 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.3
- 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.
- 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.
Celtic and Rangers will both have to look elsewhere in pursuit of a new centre-back. According to The Sun, the Old Firm duo were taking an interest in the Portsmouth defender Jack Whatmough with
Rangers battle Celtic for Andrew Gutman and Jack Whatmough
Pellegrini transcript: every word as West Ham boss tells fans to back under-fire Arnautovic. Here is what the manager had to say at his pre-match press conference ahead of visiting Chelsea on Monday
West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini not surprised by interest in
'Forfeit the match' - Tottenham fans react to Heung-Min Son's red card vs Bournemouth The South Korea forward was given his marching orders after pushing Jefferson Lerma to the ground in
'Forfeit the match' - Tottenham fans react to Heung-min Son's
fussboll.com/2019/05/04/forfeit-the-match-tottenham-fans-react-to-heung-min-sons-red-card-vs-bournemouth/
'Forfeit the match' - Tottenham fans react to Heung-min Son's red card vs Bournemouth Tottenham fans react to Heung-min Son's red card vs Bournemouth.
Tottenham appeal Heung-min Son's red card vs Bournemouth
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to everyone associated with Manchester United and admits the Red Devils were second best all over the pitch in Sunday's humiliating 4-0 loss at Everton. The Toffees registered their biggest ever Premier League win over United with fine first-half finishes from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson added to by efforts
Solskjaer apologises to fans for performance 'not worthy' of
He has been linked with Chelsea and Bayern Munich but the manager is in no rush to find a new job after leaving Juventus. Massimiliano Allegri insists he has no issues with taking a year out from football if the right opportunity does not present itself following his Juventus exit.
Allegri staying at Juventus and targeting improvement - One
Ashley Cole has completed a move to play under former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard at Championship side Derby. Cole, who left LA Galaxy in November and has been a free agent since, has returned
EPL transfer news 2019: Ashley Cole joins Frank Lampard at
Manchester United fans hail 'lethal' Romelu Lukaku following forward's first-half brace against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Wednesday, 6 March 2019 Manchester United's unlikely comeback is on.
Manchester United earn €10.5million after completing historic
Tottenham Transfer News & Rumors; are right behind them on Spurs' radar. Napoli defensive midfielder Amadou Diawara is one of those players, and according to one Italian media source, Napoli
Tottenham transfer news: Kieran Trippier uncertain of Spurs
Confirmed: The Arsenal starting XI to face Crystal Palace - Mesut Ozil starts for the Gunners. The Arsenal team news is in at the Emirates - and there is no Alexis Sanchez
Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Brighton: Lichtsteiner starts as Ozil
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll is desperate to sign a new deal at the club despite his persistent injury problems, according to a report on Talksport. The 29-year-old made another appearance from the bench as the Hammers held on to secure a 3-2 win over London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Pellegrini admits Carroll has a "challenge" to earn new West
West Ham United defeated Arsenal 1-0 at home as the Gunners found it hard to get beyond the hosts' goal.. The Gunners started out with the attacking trio of Nigeria's Alex Iwobi and the strike pair of Alexandre Lacazette and top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but all of them fired blank in the wake of Arsenal's defeat.
Samir Nasri calls Arsenal fans "stupid" for abuse over his
Zac Efron wears Spurs shirt at Brighton game, seven years after wearing an Arsenal top to the Emirates it appears Efron himself is not a committed fan of the club. For seven years ago the ex
Zac Efron becomes football's latest villain after supporting
Arsenal want Tottenham star The Gunners are eyeing a shock swoop for Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld. The Belgian has a £25m release clause in his contract and is a long-term target of
Transfer news: Arsenal plot shock swoop for Tottenham
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is eager to make his loan at AC Milan a permanent deal following a spike in form under Gennaro Gattuso . 'Staying at Milan Is My Dream,' Says Chelsea
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko set to stay at San Siro
Ousmane Dembele to Arsenal: Gunners 'make £90million bid for Barcelona star' as they attempt to beat transfer deadline. Dembele joined Barca from Borussia Dortmund for £100m last summer but
Barcelona news: Ousmane Dembele responds to Arsenal transfer
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