REVIEW: Messi bags elusive Argentina hat-trick

FOOTBALL - Lionel Messi has often been criticised for not producing as many goals for Argentina’s national team than for club side FC Barcelona. Looking to spend the weekend on the La Liga sidelines suspended, Messi decided to let it all hang out for the ‘Albiceleste’, bagging his first career hat-trick for Argentina on Wednesday.

 

> Messi’s hat-trick was enough to sink Switzerland 3-1 in Berne.

> Before Wednesday, Messi had scored 19 international goals, one brace (against Algeria in 2007) and 17 singles.

> Messi raised his tally to 22 international goals in 68 international matches, giving him on average roughly one goal per three matches played for Argentina.

> That scoring average of 0.32 is well behind the 0.72 strike rate he has generated for FC Barcelona.

> Messi also scored his very first international goal on Swiss soil, in a March 2006 friendly in Basel, which Argentina lost 3-2 against Croatia.