This guy never ceases to amaze. Lionel Messi has put on an attacking masterclass in La Liga this evening, scoring a hat-trick and registering two assists against Levante. Barcelona entered this match with revenge on their minds, having fallen to a 5-4 defeat to the same opposition in May of this year.
Messi was on it right from the start, crafting his side's opener in the 35th minute. The Argentine got on the ball just outside the opposition penalty area, before embarking on a mazing run through the defence. Just when it seemed that the defenders had bottled him up, Messi produced a stunning pass to set up Luis Suarez.
He doubled Barca's lead just before half time, finishing off this quick counterattacking goal.
The pace Messi displayed here is frightening, even if the defensive positioning was slightly suspect. The finish wasn't half bad either, slipping the ball beyond the goalkeeper's reach from a tight angle.
The player grabbed his second of the game just after the interval, getting onto the end of this Jordi Alba cross.
He competed his hat-trick on the 60 minute mark, tapping the ball in for what was certainly his easiest chance of the night.
He grabbed his second assist of the night in the closing moments of the game, playing in Gerard Pique who finished well.
Messi is certainly playing like a man trying to prove a point, perhaps related to his recent fifth place finish in the Ballon d'OR voting. He is certainly making a mockery of that ranking in recent weeks, looking like the top player in the game.
Barcelona are enjoying a fruitful season, sitting atop the La Liga table and comfortably advancing to the knockout stages of the Champions League. After a poor campaign by their own high standards last term, they will be hoping to get back to winning the big prizes in May.
