Lionel Messi pictures the Champions League ending with him hoisting the trophy and it began with him scoring a hat-trick on Tuesday as Barcelona put four goals past PSV Eindhoven.

The magical playmaker had expressed his intent before the start of the season, saying how Barca would focus on winning the Champions League this season and he put his argument forward in the form of a hat-trick and in the process setting a new Champions League record.

Lionel Messi broke a tie with Cristiano Ronaldo as his eighth Champions League treble made him the most prolific hat-trick scorer in the competition's history.

Barca's all-time top scorer Messi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute at the Nou Camp with an immaculately struck free kick, curling the ball over the wall and right into the top near corner.

He then struck twice before the 90 minutes after Ousmane Dembele had scored a scorcher of a goal from outside the edge of the area.

 

Most hat-tricks in CL history

8 = Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

7= Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

3= Filippo Inzaghi (Juventus 2, AC Milan)

3= Mario Gomez (Bayern)

3= Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar)