Lionel Messi: Best Hat-Tricks of His Career
By Dani Garcia
March 10th 2007.
A 19-year old Messi scored three goals against Barcelona’s greatest rival. That game might mark Real’s recovery in the last part of the season which ended with an epic La Liga title the last week.
Madrid blew an historic opportunity to win in Camp Nou. Real’s controlled almost all the game, specially the second half after Oleguer’s ejection, but Messi was an absolute genius that day, scoring three times for the first time of his career. Last goal came in the 92nd minute in a fantastic play between Ronaldinho and the Argentinian player.
Leo Messi has his first team debut on October 16th 2004, in the Catalan derby between Espanyol and FC Barcelona. He was 17 years, 3 months and 22 days, the second-youngest player to dress the Blaugrana colours for the first team.
That weekend, Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard called up some junior players to the first team to complete the squad: Messi, Damià, Rubén (keeper), Cristian Hidalgo, Peña, Iniesta. Messi wore the number 30 on his back and played 8 minutes of the game.
Currently after 300 games with Barcelona jersey, Messi has scored 269 goals, 34 penalties, 9 headers, 38 outside the box and 13 direct free-kicks.
Next: Four goals against Arsenal