10 years since Leo Messi's first Barça hat-trick

It was 10 March 2007, when a 19-year-old by the name of Leo Messi announced himself to the world of football with his first ever hat-trick for the club in the biggest game of all, El Clásico.

It would be the Argentine's first of 41 scored so far for the club, and it rescued a late point for Barça who had been playing with ten men for more than half of the match.

Real Madrid went ahead on three occassions, with two goals from Van Nistelrooy and one from Sergio Ramos, but there was one player who refused to be beat.

In the last minute of play, when all looked lost, the youngster dribbled through the Madrid defence before unleashing a powerful strike into the far corner to make it 3-3.

It was the type of performance we have now become accustomed to. Leo Messi has gone on to score 492 goals for the Club and won five Ballon d'Or trophies, as well as continuing to be a menace against Real Madrid, with 21 goals scored against the arch-rivals.