“Against Celta Vigo with the score level at 1-1, Messi whips a first-half stoppage-time free kick over the wall and into the top corner from a difficult 0.07 xG position to restore Barça’s lead, en route to a hat-trick and his 426th La Liga goal.”
Messi’s hat-trick comes entirely from dead balls—two sublime free kicks and a penalty—turning a routine league night against Celta into one of his most iconic set-piece clinics during his 2019 hot streak.
Against Athletic Club’s packed wall at 0–0, Messi whips a left‑footed free kick over the barrier and inside the top corner beyond a rooted keeper, a precise dead-ball strike that breaks the deadlock and becomes career goal 721 and his 456th in La Liga.
Against his favourite victims Sevilla, Messi whips a late free kick over a leaping wall and into the top corner from a tough angle, capping a 10/10 display and sealing his first goal of the season and 420th in La Liga.
Against Valencia with Barcelona clinging to a one-goal lead, Messi whips a low, bending free kick around the wall and beyond the keeper from a difficult angle to make it 3–1, sealing the win and marking La Liga goal number 472 of his career.
Against title rivals Atlético with the game goalless, Messi breaks the deadlock to secure Barcelona a vital league win, and the strike also stands as the 600th goal of his professional career.