Messi Creates La Liga History with Hat-trick

Lionel Messi set another record in his glittering Barcelona career after becoming the first player to score 30 goals or more in seven different seasons in La Liga.

The Argentine superstar reached the milestone for the 2017-18 season by scoring a hat-trick at the Riazor as Ernesto Valverde's wrapped up the title with a 4-2 win.

His 30th goal of the campaign arrived on 38 minutes when Luis Suarez crossed to the far post and Messi was in prime position to volley home to give Barca a 2-0 lead after Philippe Coutinho had scored an early opener.

Messi then had to settle any Barca nerves inside the final 10 minutes after Depor pulled the game back to 2-2 following goals from Lucas Perez and Emre Colak.

With eight minutes to go, Messi restored Barca's lead after being teed up by Suarez again, and the pair combined for a third time in the match on 87 minutes to allow the five-time Ballon d'Or winner the chance to complete his hat-trick.

The treble in the Riazor also took Messi ahead of Mohamed Salah in the race to win the Golden Shoe as he is now on 32 league goals for the season, compared to the Liverpool forward's tally of 31.