Lionel Messi scored yet another hat-trick and surpassed 400 club goals as Barcelona came from behind to win the Catalan derby 5-1 against Espanyol in La Liga yesterday.
The Argentine, who holds the La Liga and Champions League scoring records, produced a now familiar devastating performance to take his record to 402 goals for Barca in all competitions, including 28 in friendlies.
He produced his tour de force, predictably, just a day after Cristiano Ronaldo, his rival for title of world’s best player, scored a La Liga record 23rd hat-trick against Celta Vigo for Real Madrid.
Messi may have two fewer La Liga hat-tricks than the Portuguese but he has 29 to Ronaldo’s 27 in official matches for their Spanish clubs.
The win leaves Barca in second place in La Liga, two points behind Real Madrid.