Match ends, Barcelona 5, FC Sevilla 1.
BarcelonaBarcelona5SevillaSevilla1
Barcelona's Lionel Messi became the Spanish league's all-time top scorer with a hat-trick against Sevilla.
Messi finally matched Telmo Zarra's 251 goals with a fantastic free-kick, having failed to score in his last three La Liga matches.
Sevilla levelled through a Jordi Alba own goal, but Neymar made it 2-1.
Ivan Rakitic scored a header before Messi's record breaker from a counter-attack and goal number 253 came after a one-two with Neymar.
The 27-year-old's goal tally is all the more remarkable given his goals have come in only 250 starts for Barcelona.
Earlier in the month, Messi drew level with Raul's all-time Champions League record of 71 goals after scoring twice in Barcelona's 2-0 victory against Ajax.
"Messi is without doubt the best player I've seen as a player and a coach," said Barca manager Luis Enrique after that feat.
Against Sevilla he was in irresistible form, equalling the record with a breathtaking free-kick around the wall and past goalkeeper Beto to give Barca a 1-0 lead.
He struck again from close range in the 72nd minute and scored a third goal six minutes later with a powerful low drive from the edge of the penalty area.
After scoring the goal that took him past Zarra's total, Messi's team-mates picked him up and threw him into the air several times while the crowd at the Nou Camp roared its approval.
| Messi's records | |
|---|---|
| La Liga top scorer: 253 | Barcelona's top goalscorer: 368 |
| Champions League top scorer: 71 (joint with Raul) | Most consecutive La Liga matches scored in: 21 |
| Most goals in a season: 73 | Most goals in a La Liga season: 50 |
| Most Ballon d'Ors: 4 | Most goals in Club World Cup: 4 (held jointly with Denilson) |
| Most European Cup top scorer awards: 4 (with Gerd Muller) | Most goals in a single European Cup game: 5 (joint with Luiz Adriano) |
| Most La Liga hat-tricks in a season: 8 | Most goals in El Clasico: 21 |
| Most goals in a calendar year: 91 | |
The legendary Zarra scored 251 goals in a 15-year stay at Athletic Bilbao in the 1940s and 50s.
Messi, who joined Barca's academy at the age of 13, has taken 10 seasons to overhaul Zarra - also setting a record for goals in a single campaign with 50 in 2011-12.
The Argentine became became the third-youngest player to play for Barcelona when he made his debut aged 17 years and 114 days in October 2004 and scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompie the following May.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Bravo
- 22Alves da Silva
- 3Piqué
- 24MathieuBooked at 56mins
- 18AlbaSubstituted forCorreiaat 82'minutes
- 6HernándezSubstituted forRafinhaat 77'minutes
- 5Busquets
- 4Rakitic
- 9SuárezSubstituted forPedroat 73'minutes
- 10Messi
- 11Neymar
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 7Pedro
- 12Rafinha
- 15Bartra
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 21Correia
- 31El Haddadi
Sevilla
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Beto
- 23Andújar MorenoBooked at 36mins
- 21Martín ParejaBooked at 48mins
- 6Carrico Martins
- 5Figueiras
- 19Banega
- 4Krychowiak
- 22Vidal ParreuSubstituted forDeulofeuat 61'minutes
- 17D SuárezSubstituted forGameiroat 61'minutes
- 20Machín Pérez
- 9BaccaSubstituted forIago Aspasat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Gameiro
- 10Reyes
- 14Iago Aspas
- 15Kolodziejczak
- 18Deulofeu
- 25Mbia
- 29Rico
- Referee:
- Juan Martínez Munuera
- Attendance:
- 78,283
Match Stats
Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamSevilla
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away2
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away0
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away21
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 5, FC Sevilla 1.
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Foul by Adriano (Barcelona).
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Iago Aspas (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, FC Sevilla. Conceded by Gerard Piqué.
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Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).
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Vitolo (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
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Kevin Gameiro (FC Sevilla) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Neymar.
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Corner, FC Sevilla. Conceded by Adriano.
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Offside, FC Sevilla. Iago Aspas tries a through ball, but Gerard Deulofeu is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Neymar (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt missed. Adriano (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Iago Aspas (FC Sevilla).
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Rafinha (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vitolo (FC Sevilla).
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Adriano replaces Jordi Alba.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Gerard Deulofeu.
