Lionel Messi has a chance to break a massive Cristiano Ronaldo record in the Copa del Rey semifinal against Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi produced an extraordinary display against Sevilla as the Barca forward scored a hattrick in a 4-2 victory over Sevilla.
This was Messi’s 50th hattrick in his career. He scored 44 of them at Barcelona, with the remaining six for the national team.
And now, the Argentinian superstar has a big opportunity to go one above his rival Cristiano Ronaldo as Barcelona face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal.
Both Messi and Ronaldo are tied on 44 hattricks for a Spanish club. The Portuguese forward was the record-holder for the most hattricks until Messi equalized the stat last weekend.
This season in the Top 5 European Leagues:
⚽ Most goals:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi🎯 Most assists:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi🏃 Most successful dribbles:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi🍾 Most MOTM’s:
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/zLMIdKDC5P— Transfer News (@TrustyTransfers) February 26, 2019
Can’t even imagine football without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Been witnessing two of the all time greatest players play in the same era for almost 15 years now. Our generation is genuinely blessed. Football will be back to normalcy once these two are done and dusted. pic.twitter.com/QyxHNyLg2Y
— EL CAPITANO (@capitan_sr4) February 26, 2019
And now, Messi is in pole position to break Ronaldo’s record against his former club.
The Barca forward suffered from an injury prior to the first leg of the semifinal at Camp Nou and came on as a substitute in the game. However, Messi is now fully fit and will eye a spot in the final of the competition as Barcelona aim to spoil Real Madrid’s party at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Los Blancos have had a few shaky weeks, which include a 2-1 loss to Girona. Last weekend, a controversial penalty secured a win for Real Madrid in the closing stages of the game. However, Santiago Solari’s side enjoys home advantage in the second leg.
“If #Messi were just a goal scorer it would be astonishing, but the fact he is also the best dribbler I have ever seen and as good a passer as I have ever seen makes him the best I have ever seen.” (Gary Lineker) pic.twitter.com/tliPnkNFU1
— Bichoy Gabra (@b_gabra) February 26, 2019
Antoine Griezmann The best of all times: “It depends on the era but it’s between Messi or Cristiano, I did not see Pele or Maradona play, it’s a complicated question, everyone has their own style, there’s Zidane, who has a World Cup and Cristiano and Messi, no. ” pic.twitter.com/TTMyDhg2yi
— Enock Kobina Essel (@kobinaessel39) February 26, 2019
Neymar Jr. talking about former teammate Lionel Messi: “Leo was very special for me at Barca. I tell this to the whole world. At the moment when I needed the most support, the man of the team, the best player in the world, arrived and gave me a hand.” pic.twitter.com/dtE6pWZyXO
— Photos of Football (@photosofootball) February 25, 2019
Even if Messi fails to score a hattrick tomorrow, he will get another opportunity to break the record against the same opponents. Barcelona face Real Madrid twice this weekend as the sides take each other on in La Liga on Saturday.
If the Argentinian forward miraculously scores hattricks in both the games, he will surpass Ronaldo’s all-time hattrick-record as well. The former Real Madrid star has scored 51 hattricks in his career.
