Lionel Messi Scores His Eighth Champions League Hat-Trick

Lionel Messi started the Champions League campaign doing what he does best.

In what is his first season skippering Barcelona, the five-time Ballon d'Or notched a sublime hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of PSV at the Nou Camp - kicking it all with a sublime 25-yard free-kick in the first half with his 101th goal in the competition.

PSV are the 30th team Messi has scored against in the Champions League, while he's also managed to find the net past an incredible 179 goalkeepers.

But he didn't stop there. Ousmane Dembele notched a second with a sublime goal before Messi struck in the 77th and 88th minute for a record-breaking eighth Champions League hat-trick.

Going into tonight's game, Messi was tied with Ronaldo on seven UCL hat-tricks but he's moved ahead after doing the business tonight.

At the start of the season, Messi had spoke about making the Champions League a priority for the Blaugrana and he's well and truly set the bar with his performance tonight.

Here's to lots more Messi magic in the Champions League this season..

Topics: Football News, PSV, FC Barcelona, Football, Lionel Messi, Champions League

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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