Barcelona back on top of La Liga as Lionel Messi hat-trick sees off Granada

Lionel Messi beats Granada’s goalkeeper Andrés Fernández on his way to a hat-trick for Barcelona. Photograph: Manu Fernandez/AP Lionel Messi’s first hat trick of the season helped Barcelona beat Granada 4-0 and take the top spot in the Spanish league on Saturday. Messi scored twice within the first 15 minutes at the Camp Nou, and added his third in the second half asBarcelona cruised to victory. Neymar completed the scoring with seven minutes...

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Lionel Messi set for Ballon d’Or but Neymar threatens the old duopoly

When Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or in 2001, becoming the first and still the only Englishman to win European football’s player of the year award since Kevin Keegan, his manager had to take him aside and impress upon him just how important this was. “Gérard Houllier was surprised when he first told me,” Owen admitted. “I think he was a bit put out by me not punching the air and going hysterical. He was saying: ‘Do you realise what this means?’”Had...

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Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez fire Barcelona to Club World Cup title

A goal from Lionel Messi and a double from Luis Suárez helped Barcelona to beat River Plate 3-0 in Yokohama and win the Club World Cup, the club’s fifth trophy of 2015.Messi opened the scoring 10 minutes before the end of a difficult first half forBarcelona, who were tested by River’s intensity, but the European champions struck again early in the second period through Suárez and the Uruguayan sealed their third world title by heading home a cross from Neymar.Barcelona 3-0 River Plate: Club World Cup final –as it happenedBarcelona ended a stellar year by being crowned world club champions after...

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Barcelona hoping Lionel Messi will be in squad for clásico against Real Madrid

Lionel Messi could be a potent weapon to introduce from the bench should Barcelona be struggling against Real Madrid. Photograph: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Barcelona are hopeful that Lionel Messi will be fit enough to be included in the squad for the coming clásico against Real Madrid.According to AS, the Argentinian talisman is not expected to start the game but the coach Luis Enrique will be looking to introduce him from the bench...

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Lionel Messi surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo as the best footballer in the world

Lionel Messi was the top choice to be the No1 player of the year from 74% of the Guardian’s judges. Photograph: Gustau Nacarino/Reuters We’ve been making a list. We’ve checked it twice. We’re trying to find out what [insert name of favourite/most pointlessly disliked player] is doing [down/up] there in yet another example of [pro/anti] [name of club] bias.Yes, it’s that time again. Once again the Guardian’s panel of judges has culled the...

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