MADRID: Superstar Lionel Messi is on course for a record-breaking goal-scoring season following his sublime hat-trick in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Valencia on Sunday.
Argentine international Messi scored three brilliant goals to bamboozle third-placed Valencia and move him onto 22 goals for the season, three ahead of compatriot and Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain at the top of the goalscoring charts.
Higuain also hit a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s 4-1 win at Valladolid.
Messi opened the scoring on 56 minutes, dancing around three defenders with a mazy dribble at speed with cut-backs and body swerves before cooly finishing.
It was the pick of the goals but the other two were also impressive with a solo run and a left-footed curler on 81 minutes before another dribble and deft right-footed chip clinched his hat-trick a minute later.
Messi, still only 22, is now only one goal away from equalling his league best of 23 set last season and there are still 12 games to go.
“He (Messi) is the best player in the world but not a natural goalscorer. However, this year he has scored a lot and I hope he can continue doing so,” team-mate Gerard Pique told the Barcelona official website.
“Everyone knows he would like the Golden Boot. But it is not something that he has to do. If in the end he manages that then great.
“Messi is very important as everyone knows and we know that when he is playing well it is much easier to score goals and to win games.”
Barca president Joan Laporta also paid tribute to Messi labelling him a down-to-earth genius.
“It is recognition for a player that is a genius but remains humble and respectful,” said Laporta.
“He is talented and is a great role-model for all the children.”
VfB Stuttgart are up next for Barca and Messi at Camp Nou tomorrow in the second leg of the last 16 Champions League tie although coach Pep Guardiola insists the league is still the priority.
“Winning the league is the real litmus test,” said Guardiola. “That gives us the stability to fight in Europe.
“There’s a tendency to say that the Champions League is the objective, but we’d be wrong to centre our attention too much on the fact that the final is at the Santiago Bernabeu (Real Madrid’s stadium).
“I know that if we want the title we need to take a lot of points. I’m sure that Madrid will drop very few points in what’s left of the season.”
Real have dropped just 13 points in the title race as have Barcelona. As it stands Real are top on goal difference after a 4-1 thumping of Valladolid on Sunday. — AFP
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