Messi’s ruthless hat-trick against Granada turns a routine league outing into a showcase of his peak-year dominance, as he scores all three from open play and drives Barcelona’s attack with 8 through balls and 15 progressive carries.
With Barcelona wobbling in a tense league run-in, Messi restores a 2–1 lead over Valencia from Jordi Alba’s pass, and the strike quietly doubles as the 500th goal of his professional career.
Luis Suárez’s assist in an 8–0 demolition of Córdoba sets up Messi to make it 6–0 and quietly bring up career goal number 450, another landmark in his absurd scoring climb.
With Barcelona already ahead against Rayo, Messi doubles the lead to put the game out of reach and, almost casually, brings up his 300th career goal at just 25 years old.
Against Atlético’s packed defence at 0–0, Messi takes Suárez’s layoff on the edge of the box and, almost side-on to goal, threads a low left-foot shot precisely inside the far post for a stoppage-time winner and his 428th La Liga goal.