El Clasico hat-tricks in the 21st century - ranked

April 2, 1916. The great Santiago Bernabeu wheels away in celebration after securing a hat-trick and firing Real Madrid to a 4-1 win over Barcelona.

Just 11 days after that feat, the two sides played out a ludicrous 6-6 draw which featured no fewer than three hat-tricks, including yet another from Bernabeu himself. A get-a-stadium-named-after-you achievement if ever there was one.

In total, 24 players have contributed to 28 hat-tricks in El Clasico, with five of those coming in the 21st century. Of those five, which takes the cake?

5. Lionel Messi (23/3/14)

Lionel Messi's first goal in this 4-3 win at the Bernabeu was lovely, but the second and third goals were both penalties after Madrid had seen Sergio Ramos sent off. How can this be anywhere other than fifth?

To give Messi his flowers, this was the second game in a row in which he'd scored a hat-trick, and it was also the match in which he became the leading scorer in Clasico history. Fair play.

Still, two penalties. Boring.

4. Karim Benzema (5/4/23)

Madrid dumped Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey with a stunning 4-0 win away at Camp Nou in April 2023, with Karim Benzema running the show this time.

If we're being honest, the goals in this one aren't great either. He opened the scoring with a scrappy tap-in and, after a solid finish for his second, finished the fun off with a penalty.

However, to dominate this fixture, on the turf of the ultimate enemy, is nothing to take lightly. Benzema was simply far too good for Barcelona here.

3. Vinicius Junior (14/1/24)

What's the only way you can raise the tension of a Clasico? By making that Clasico a cup final.

Vinicius Junior and Madrid put Barcelona to the sword in the Supercopa de Espana final in January 2024, completely embarrassing Xavi's side with a 4-1 victory - a brutal reminder of the current gulf in quality between the two teams.

While Vinicius' goals weren't overflowing with quality, they did all come in the first half. Ruthless efficiency on the grandest stage.

2. Luis Suarez (28/10/18)

The 2018/19 season got off to a disastrous start for Madrid under Julen Lopetegui and Barcelona took real pleasure from trampling their rivals further into the dirt when they met at Camp Nou in October with a 5-1 win.

This was just complete dominance from Barcelona, who were led by a hat-trick from Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan's first was a penalty for 2-0, but a stunning header and a lovely chip soon raised the excitement. Suarez could have even had a fourth but struck the post with an acrobatic volley.

True class from Suarez, who can only be denied first place by something truly special.

1. Lionel Messi (10/3/07)

You can trace the origins of Messi's quest to become the greatest player in history all the way back to this hat-trick at Camp Nou in March 2007. When the game kicked off, he was little more than an intriguing young talent, but by full time, life as we knew it had changed forever.

Shifting out to the right wing after an uncomfortable stretch at striker, Messi was the hero of the day here, grabbing no fewer than three equalisers, including a wonderful solo goal in the 91st minute to secure a 3-3 draw.

This game made Messi, whose strikes were all full of a typically unstoppable technical grace.

And to think, the only reason Messi was playing out wide was Ludovic Giuly had got himself suspended for a ridiculously harsh red card in a clash with future Barca player Dani Alves. We have referee Bernardino Gonzalez Vazquez to thank for Messi's entire career.

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