As if you needed another reminder, Lionel Messi is quite good at football. The Argentine has been an absolute tear for the last few months, even by his own impossibly high standards. Having been ranked fifth in the 2018 Ballon d'Or race, he is playing like someone with a point to prove.
Barcelona faced off against Sevilla this afternoon, knowing a win would cement their place at the summit of La Liga. The Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium is no easy place to go, however, and the home side would take the lead after 22 minutes through Jesus Navas.
Their lead didn't last long, with Messi replying just four minutes later. Look at this for a perfectly executed volley:
He was only getting started. While Sevilla would once again take the lead just before the interval, Messi would grab his second of the match just after the hour mark.
While not quite as spectacular as his first, it was still a bullet of a shot into the top corner. It came on his so-called 'weaker foot' as well.
With the clock winding down in the game and Barcelona on the hunt for a winner, there was only ever going to be one man to come up with the goods.
There was certainly a hint of fortune in this one, with the shot from Carles Alena falling directly into his path. Once it did so, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
Talk about calmness personified. There was still time for some more Messi magic before the final whistle, this time turning provider with a jaw-dropping pass for Luis Suarez.
That's three goals and an assist, for those of you that are counting. Certainly not a bad day at the office for the fifth best player in the world. This result moved Barcelona ten points clear at the top of La Liga, with second placed Atletico Madrid having played a game less.
