The Sunday Mail
LIONEL MESSI proved once more on Tuesday evening that he is the man for the big occasion as he hit a stunning hat-trick to seal Argentina’s place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The 30-year-old poked home his first after 11 minutes before firing his country in front against Ecuador just seven minutes later.
He sealed victory with a stunning finish in the second half.
It was Messi’s 44th hat-trick of an incredible career, but amazingly he is still four behind his arch-rival in the treble stakes and the race to 50.
Cristiano Ronaldo has found the net three times or more in a match on an astounding 48 occasions, the most recent coming for Portugal against the Faroe Islands in a 5-1 win back in August.
Both have come a long way since their first hat-tricks at professional level, with the Argentine’s coming over 10 years ago.
Messi got off the mark in some style, netting three times in the biggest game of them all as he rescued a point for Barcelona in a 3-3 draw with rivals Real Madrid in 2007.
Ronaldo had to wait until the following year to get up and running, but did so in emphatic fashion for Manchester United, scoring three in a 6-0 hammering of Newcastle United in January 2008.
Staggeringly, this was the only hat-trick he managed for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side during his time at Old Trafford, with five coming for Portugal and the other 42 coming for Real Madrid.
Both had to wait a little longer to break their duck at international level, where again Messi was the first to make his mark, the striker scoring all Argentina’s goals in a 3-1 win over Switzerland in a 2012 friendly.
Just five of his trebles have come for his country, while the other 39 have all been scored for Barcelona.
Ronaldo’s first treble for Portugal again came on British soil, this time in Northern Ireland as his country won 4-2 at Windsor Park in 2013 on their way to booking their place at the 2014 World Cup. – Daily Mail
