“Pedro’s early cross from the right finds Messi darting across the near post, and his glancing header inside the far corner breaks the deadlock to start a hat-trick night and bring up career goal 125.”
Messi erupts for a hat-trick in Zaragoza, turning just 0.47 xG into three solo-driven strikes as he carries Barça’s attack all night in a peak 22-year-old La Liga showcase.
Against Deportivo with the game still goalless, Messi darts onto a right‑wing cross and guides a precise header inside the far post, breaking the deadlock and setting up his hat-trick as career goal 425 and La Liga strike 260.
Against Málaga with the game still goalless, Messi darts onto Adriano’s looping cross and steers a precise header inside the far post, starting a hat-trick night and bringing up La Liga goal number 139.
Dani Alves hangs a precise cross to the far post and Messi darts between defenders to nod it back across goal into the corner, a rare headed finish that pushes Barcelona 3–0 up en route to his 449th career strike.
Retaking the lead at 1–1, Messi darts onto Pedro’s late cross and guides a close-range header inside the far post, his second of the night and La Liga goal number 63.