Valverde Impressed With Messi’s Hattrick

Barcelona boss, Ernesto Valverde has described Messi’s hattrick against Real Mallorca as the perfect way to respond to a sixth Ballon D’Or title.

The Argentina International found the net thrice in his side’s demolition over Mallorca only days after recording a record-sixth Ballon D’Or title.

Messi paraded the award at the Camp Nou prior to the League encounter with his three sons, before going on to show why he was worth the award in the first place.

The Ballon D’Or win for Messi helped him steer one clear off Cristiano Ronaldo. The Blaugrana also in their league outing surpassed Ronaldo’s record of the most hattricks in the Laliga.

Having recorded his 35th hattrick, Valverde was full of praise for the Barcelona captain at Camp Nou.

“Unbelievable,” the Barcelona boss told reporters after Barca regained top spot ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
“It was a good way to celebrate the Ballon d’Or.”

While it was Messi who resounded through all the headlines, his teammate, Luis Suarez was also incredible as the Uruguayan scored a stunning back-heel to round off a fluid passing move against Mallorca.

Antoine Griezmann also fetched himself a goal meaning all three players in the front line were on the scoresheet.

Valverde on Suarez’s goal said:

“The situation took me by surprise. I thought it was a pass to a team-mate.

“It surprised me, but it was an extraordinary goal. I told him that there had been a few easier chances and this one, which was improbable, went in.”

Messi’s hattrick took him to 12 goals, helping him leapfrog Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema in the race for the Pichichu award.

Speaking for the Blaugrana captain, those 12 goals had only come in nine starts for the Catalan giants as he was hampered by injuries earlier on in the season.