Lionel Messi, the most magical of all on Three Kings Day
He has played three games and scored six goals in those matches on this day
Lionel Messi is, by some way, the Barcelona figure who has gifted the fans the most goals on Three Kings Day in Spain. On the three matches he has played on January 6 he scored a hat-trick against Atletico, a double against Espanyol and another against Espanyol in a different game. Messi never lets the fans down on Kings Day. This Sunday he faces Getafe and will be hoping to continue his good run.
The first gift that that Messi gave the fans on Kings Day was in 2009 under Pep Guardiola. He scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at the Vicente Calderon, the second of his Barca career, and took Barca to the verge of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. He netted the first after being teed up by Dani Alves, the second from the spot after he had been fouled and then the third after fooling goalkeeper Coupet and scoring into an empty net. Messi was subbed off for Pedro and given a standing ovation by home fans. SPORT rated him 10/10. Four shots, three goals and one crossbar.
On Kings Day 2013 Messi helped Barca beat Espanyol 4-0. Tito Vilanova’s side, with the coach back on the bench after time absent, won comfortably with Xavi, Pedro (2) and Messi on the scoresheet. Messi scored a penalty after 28 minutes.
Finally Messi hit two as Barca beat Espanyol 4-1 on the day Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal made their debuts in 2016. Messi netted after 13 minutes then again with a free-kick in the 44th, helping Barca come from behind after Caicedo’s opener.
Playing on Kings Day is a tradition that started in 1911. Between then and 1927, Barca played on January 6 each year apart from 1917 and 1918.
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