CRISTIANO RONALDO and Lionel Messi have been engaged in ‘super-star wars’ for more than a decade – but perhaps they should be known as the treble alliance.
The two icons of modern football have scored a ridiculous 110 hat-tricks for club and country in their glorious careers.
Ronaldo celebrates scoring during his 56th hat-trick, for Juventus against CagliariCredit: Reuters
Messi’s last hat-trick – his 54th – came against EibarCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Many of those have been Solo efforts – and there has been plenty of Enterprise on display.
Messi was the first of the pair to hit a professional hat-trick, doing it on one of the biggest stages in world football… El Clasico.
He put Real Madrid to the sword on March 10, 2007 and they have been sick of the sight of Barcelona’s little Argentine ever since.
Ronaldo’s first treble did not arrive for another ten months, coming for Manchester United against Newcastle on January 13, 2008.
However, despite netting his maiden one later, the Portuguese now leads his rival when it comes to career hat-tricks.
Ronaldo has 56 to Messi’s 54.
The Juventus star has taken advantage of a spot of good fortune as 29 of his hat-tricks – more than half – include penalties, whereas his perennial Ballon d’Or rival only has 14 that include spot-kicks.
But Ronaldo has netted a perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot, header – doing so for Real Madrid against Getafe in 2013.
Messi was simply three-mendous in 2011/12, netting an astonishing 12 hat-tricks.
Messi celebrates a goal during his first-career hat-trick, against Real Madrid 13 years agoCredit: AP:Associated Press
Ronaldo’s first treble came ten months later, for Manchester United against NewcastleCredit: Reuters
Ronaldo scored seven himself that season but was on Cloud Nine in 2014/15 – he netted nine hat-tricks in the campaign, his best so far.
And the pair do not tend to stop at just three, either.
Ronaldo has scored four in a match eight times in his career, with Messi trailing slightly with a ‘mere’ six quadruple hauls.
And, appropriately for the game’s two biggest names, they have both put in five-star performances.
Messi hit FIVE for Barcelona against Bayer Leverkusen in a Champions League rout in 2012 – but Ronaldo has gone one better.
He has netted five goals in a game twice, both for Real Madrid, against Espanyol and Granada.
They have both been at it this season, as well.
Messi’s most recent treble came in February this year, when he scored four against Eibar, while Ronaldo netted his against Cagliari in January.
When it comes to scoring hat-tricks, these superstars are in another galaxy far, far away from any other current player.
Cristiano Ronaldo pulls off incredible trick shot at Juventus training ahead of Serie A return
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
