The Argentinian has scored 18 goals in all competitions this year, and has broken the Liga record for career hat-tricks (24).

The year has got off to a wonderful start for Leo Messi. The Barça striker has scored 18 goals in 16 games, and average of 1.1 a game. And that was after 2015 had begun with defeat at Anoeta and the Argentinian ten goals adrift of Cristiano Ronaldo in the goalscoring chart. But everything has changed in the two months that followed, with the duo now tied on 30 Liga goals each. And Messi has also broken yet another record, this time for the most career hat-tricks in Liga. He’s scored three times in 24 different games to top Athletic Bilbao legend Telmo Zarra’s tally of 23.

His three against Rayo Vallecano in just 12 minutes was also the fastest of his career and meant that for the sixth consecutive season he has scored at least 40 goals in all competitions.

Team building

Barça have won 14 of their 16 fixtures so far this year, scoring 56 goals and conceding just 13. These results have put the side back at the top of the Liga table, into the Spanish Cup Final and also in a fine position to make it into the last eight of the Champions League following a 2-1 win away to Man City.

Messi has also continued to provide plenty of assists – no fewer than eleven since January started, and he has played a role in 52% of Barça’s goals

Messi hat-tricks

Competition	Match	Stadium	Result
Liga	Deportivo v FC Barcelona	Riazor	0-4
Liga	FC Barcelona v Levante	Camp Nou	5-0
Liga	FC Barcelona v Rayo	Camp Nou	6-1

Messi assists

Competition	Matches	Assists	Result
Liga	FCB v Atletico Madrid Elche v FCB FCB v Levante Athletic Bilbao v FCB FCB v Rayo	1 2 1 2 1	3-1 0-6 5-0 2-5 6-1
Cup	FCB v Elche FCB v Villarreal Villarreal v FCB	2 1 1	5-0 3-1 1-3
Total		11