Lionel Messi's five best performances ever

#3 Vs Real Madrid (2007) - Putting Messi on the map

Barcelona v Real Madrid

In the lead-up to this match, Barcelona were six points ahead of their rivals in the title race. However, Madrid knew that as they beat Barcelona earlier in the season, they had the head-to-head advantage and a draw or a win today would be worth an extra point to them come the end of the season.

Madrid started strongly and were rewarded when Gonzalo Higuain's cross was deflected into the path of Ruud Van Nistelrooy who curled home from outside the box to give Madrid the advantage. Frank Rijkaard's men then pushed for an equaliser as Samuel Eto'o had his effort well saved by Iker Casillas. The Cameroonian then played through Messi who had found himself in space and slotted the ball past Casillas to level the game.

Madrid were then rewarded a penalty when Guti was fouled by Oleguer and Van Nistelrooy stepped up to slot the ball past Valdes and restore Madrid's advantage. Barcelona had their best chance to equalise when Messi took the ball beyond three players, slotted it to Ronaldinho who found Eto'o but the strikers tame shot was a real let-down to the build up.

Messi then grabbed his brace when Eto'o and Ronaldinho combined again with a lovely one-two for the Brazilian's volley to be well-saved and fall to the feet of Messi who blasted a half-volley into the roof of the net. Then came Messi's first chance for a hat-trick when he once again lost his marker following a pass from Andres Iniesta. However, the Argentine could only find the side netting from close range.

Barcelona then began to dominate the game, Messi showed some wonderful trickery to play through Ronaldinho and then found himself free in the box but the Brazilian's attempted cross to Eto'o was blocked fantastically by Michel Salgado. Barca's dominance was short-lived however, as Oleguer picked up his second yellow of the game and was sent off on the brink of half-time.

Madrid then took the lead when Guti's free-kick was met by Sergio Ramos whose backwards header cannoned off the bar and into the back of the net. It looked like Madrid were going to win the game but in stoppage time, Messi latched onto a Ronaldinho pass on the edge of the box, weaved his way past three diving challenges and placed the ball into the far corner for his first El Classico hat-trick in dramatic fashion at just 19-years-old.