To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

On This Day In 2007 Lionel Messi Scored His First Hat-Trick

On This Day In 2007 Lionel Messi Scored His First Hat-Trick

Lionel Messi scored his first ever hat-trick in the Classico in 2007, scoring an injury time equaliser to wrap it up.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

On this day in 2007, Lionel Messi scored his first ever hat-trick for Barcelona, as he scored all three goals in a dramatic draw in the Clasico.

Out of his 729 career goals, for Barcelona and Argentina, Lionel Messi has scored 162 of those within the same games, with the six time Ballon d'Or winner wracking up 54 hat-tricks.

The 33-year-old can certainly come up clutch with his trio of goals as well, proved by the fact his first one came in the most pressured of situations, a Clasico against Real Madrid.

On March 10th 2007, aged just 19-years-old, the youngster was the star of the show, outshining teammates Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho, to win a point for his team.

Real took the lead three times and on every occasion Messi pulled his side back level, with his final goal coming in injury time.

It was Messi's fourth game against the Catalan giants' fierce rivals, with a fifth game seeing him stay on the bench for 90 minutes, and he hadn't previously scored.

Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring after five minutes but Messi pegged Los Blancos back just six minutes later.

Once again Van Nistelrooy put the visitors ahead just two minutes after that and once again Messi made it level, this time after 28 minutes.

Sergio Ramos made it 3-2 in the 73rd minute and it took until injury time for Messi to make it all square for the third time.

Messi walks off with a match ball after scoring yet another hat-trick last year, 13 years after his first. Image: PA Images
Messi walks off with a match ball after scoring yet another hat-trick last year, 13 years after his first. Image: PA Images

Whilst those were his first three goals against the 13 times Champions League winners, there were plenty more to come from the Argentina star.

Messi has scored an incredible 26 goals in games between Spain's two giants, with 18 of those coming in La Liga games.

It makes him the highest scorer in the famous match, head and shoulders above the legendary Alfredo di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo in second place, with the former Real stars both on 18 goals.

The last minute goal to set up his hat-trick also wasn't his most important last minute strike vs Real, as he repeated the trick around 10 years later in his 'coldest' performance ever.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football, El Clasico, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid, La Liga

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

X

@Sidler28