Lionel Messi's 3 finest El Clasico performances

Lionel Messi is the all-time top-scorer in the history of the Spanish Primera Liga, having scored a record 431 goals in 462 appearances. That is 120 goals better than the player with the next best tally - Cristiano Ronaldo (311 goals).

Messi, who is 8th in a list of 10 players to have made over 450 Liga appearances, is the only player to have scored in 16 consecutive seasons in the Spanish top-flight.

The diminutive Argentinian's three-goal haul in a 5-2 home win over Real Mallorca last weekend was his record 35th hat-trick in the Spanish Primera Liga, breaking a tie he shared with Ronaldo for most hat-tricks in the competition.

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Messi's 39 appearances against Real Madrid is the most he has faced any opposition across all competitions during the course of his illustrious career. Only against Sevilla (37), Atletico Madrid (30), and Valencia (28) has Messi scored more goals than he has against Real Madrid (27).

The all-time El Clasico top-scorer with 26 goals, Messi has played a pivotal role in many an El Clasico encounter. On the eve of Barcelona's 242nd El Clasico meeting (excluding friendlies) with Real Madrid this weekend, let us recall three of Messi's finest performances in the most-watched match-up in Spanish league football.

#3 2010-11 UEFA Champions League semifinal Second Leg: Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona

Lionel Messi

In their first European meeting in over 10 years since a semifinal loss to eventual winners Real Madrid in 2000-01, Barcelona traveled to the Bernabeu to play the record 9-time winners.

It turned out to be a cagey game devoid of too many clear-cut scoring opportunities. Madrid seemed content to throttle the free-flowing tiki-taka passing game of Barcelona as Cristiano Ronaldo cut a lonely, forlorn and often frustrated figure up-front.

Pepe's red card marked the fourth sending-off of a Madrid player in as many Clasico games in the season as Madrid's overtly defensive strategy would prove to be their downfall. Substitute Ibrahim Afellay darted past Marcelo and fed Messi, who slotted the ball into an unguarded net to open the scoring.

Moments later, Messi provided a moment of immense quality that lit up a dour night of football. Dashing past five players, the 23-year-old Argentinian sprinted into the Madrid penalty box and slipped the ball smoothly past Iker Casillas to double the visitors' lead.

Barcelona returned to Camp Nou with a comfortable 2-0 aggregate advantage.

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#2 2013-14 LaLiga: Madrid 3-4 Barcelona

Lionel Messi

Defending champions Barcelona traveled to the Bernabeu to face a side unbeaten in 31 home games in all competitions - which included a 17-game winning run. But both streaks were to come to a close at the end of the game.

It was the visitors who took first blood courtesy Andres Iniesta's fine 7th minute opener. Karim Benzema's quickfire brace put the home side into the lead which they would have carried till the breather if not for Gerard Pique's goal-line clearance off Benzema and Lionel Messi's 42nd minute intervention at the other end.

Cristiano Ronaldo restored Madrid's lead from the spot early into the second period but Messi once again brought the visitors on level terms as the game passed the hour mark. Sergio Ramos' 73rd minute red card changed the complexion of the game as Madrid looked intent to settle for a draw.

Barcelona sensed the opportunity to clinch all three points and did so when a foul on Iniesta inside the Madrid penalty box six minutes from time allowed Messi to slot in his second spot kick of the night and win the game for the visitors.

It was Messi's second consecutive hat-trick in a Liga game after netting three against Osasuna. The diminutive Argentinian moved into sole second place in the all-time Liga scoring charts and Barcelona breathed new life into the Liga title race.

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#1 2006-07 LaLiga: Real Madrid 3-3 Barcelona

Lionel Messi

Days after Real Madrid and Barcelona were knocked out of European contention, the two biggest clubs in Spain met in a league El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Three times Madrid led and thrice Barcelona fought back to claim a share of the spoils in a thrilling six-goal encounter. The opening quarter hour of the game produced three goals.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's 4th minute opener provided the early lead for the capital club before Messi, playing his first El Clasico, scored a 10th minute equalizer for the visitors.

Van Nistelrooy's second of the game two minutes later restored Madrid's lead but Messi pegged back the home side once again midway through the first half. When Oleguer Presas saw two yellows in quick succession and the visitors were reduced to 10 men, the game looked like Madrid's for the taking - especially with an entire half to play.

With Frank Rijkaard withdrawing forward Samuel Eto'o to rejig his initial 3-4-3 formation, Madrid dominated in the second half. Sergio Ramos's 72nd minute strike looked to have earned all three points for the visitors until Messi intervened just as full-time beckoned.

Exhibiting immaculate composure and ice-cool temperament not usually associated with a 19-year-old, Messi collected the ball five yards outside the area, carried it past Iván Helguera and slotted a calm finish beyond the Madrid keeper Iker Casillas.

It was a performance that earned a rare standing ovation from the Bernabeu faithful as Messi walked away with the 'man of the match' award.