18th September, 2013
Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday.
Messi took his tally to 62 Champions League goals and became the first player to score more than four Champions League hat-tricks, whilst also netting his 24th such treble for Barca.
A day after Cristiano Ronaldo hit three in Real Madrid’s 6-1 thumping of Galatasaray, Messi reminded everyone who is still the four-time reigning Ballon d’Or winner.
Despite boasting eight European Cup and Champions League crowns between them, Barcelona and Ajax had never met before their Group H encounter at the Nou Camp.
And typically it was a dazzling display from Messi that got the 2009 and 2011 winners off to the ideal start.
Ajax are a far cry from the brilliant outfit that romped to their fourth title in 1995, just three years after Barca had broken their duck in the competition.
Messi’s first had an air of inevitability about it as he was first felled on the edge of the area and then stepped up to curl home a sumptuous free-kick.
And his second came in another of Messi’s classic moves as he took a pass from Sergio Busquets on the right before cutting inside onto his left foot to shoot home.
Centre-back Gerard Pique headed home a pinpoint Neymar cross from the left having stayed up for a corner.
But Messi didn’t allow anyone else to hog the limelight for long as he fired home his third from Xavi’s pass 15 minutes from time.
Things only got worse for Ajax as Kolbeinn Sigthorsson saw a penalty saved by Victor Valdes after Javier Mascherano had brought down Thurani Serero.
In the group’s other game, AC Milan left it late before avoiding an embarrassing slip-up at the San Siro as Emilio Izaguirre’s own goal broke Celtic’s hearts, with Sulley Muntari adding a second to secure the Rossoneri a 2-0 success.