Lionel Messi lit up Saturday night in Catalunya with a smashing dead-ball hat-trick to help Barcelona see off Celta Vigo and reclaim top spot in the La Liga.
After beginning the night by scoring a penalty to put Barcelona 1-0 up, Messi completed his first hat-trick of the season with two sublime free-kicks that left world football awestruck.
His precision from free-kicks is a skill the 32-year-old has worked on and improved in recent years. He has converted four goals from his last seven free-kick attempts in the Spanish league.
The last time a player scored a hat-trick from set-pieces in La Liga was when Messi himself achieved the same feat in 2012 against Espanyol, albeit with two penalties and one free-kick.
As Messi bettered that effort on Saturday, here’s how Twitter reacted to the Argentine genius’ efforts:
"A freekick is just a penalty from outside the box"
— Marvin Nigeria PLC (@Boboye_Ak) November 9, 2019
~ Lionel Messi
There is only one Lionel Messi, the 🐐
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) November 9, 2019
6️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ Barcelona goals
4️⃣6️⃣ from free kicks
4️⃣0️⃣➕ in 1️⃣1️⃣ consecutive years
3️⃣4️⃣ LaLiga hat tricks
1️⃣ 🐐 pic.twitter.com/qVfHfThdzy
😄Happiness😄 pic.twitter.com/6wAkcPOkQx
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 10, 2019
10/03/2007: Lionel Messi scores his first hat-trick
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 9, 2019
04/10/2008: Lionel Messi scores his first free-kick
09/11/2019: Lionel Messi scores his 52nd free-kick to complete his 52nd hat-trick pic.twitter.com/u0jAHo4Yw4
📊 — In the last 8 seasons, Lionel Messi alone has more free-kick goals (28) than Juventus (27), Real Madrid (23), and PSG (20). Accuracy. pic.twitter.com/HhZorbt2UD
— Barca Universal (@BarcaUniversal) November 10, 2019
34 - Lionel Messi has equaled Cristiano Ronaldo as the player with the most hat-tricks scored in LaLiga history (34). Duel. pic.twitter.com/qQUlfrgFFp
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 9, 2019
Lionel Messi has now scored 40+ goals in 11 consecutive calendar years:
— bet365 (@bet365) November 9, 2019
2009 - 41
2010 - 60
2011 - 59
2012 - 91
2013 - 45
2014 - 58
2015 - 52
2016 - 59
2017 - 54
2018 - 51
2019 - 40*
Incredible.
After reading those numbers, it would be unfair not to give you a glimpse of Messi’s magic. Here you go
The best view of Lionel Messi's free-kick from today 😍
— Futbol World (@FutbolWorId) November 10, 2019
The man is a absolute magician. Best free-kick taker of all time. 🤤 pic.twitter.com/vJiN0C1JdF
