Vinicius Junior produced an unforgettable performance as Real Madrid thrashed Barcelona to win The Supercopa de España at the weekend.
The Brazilian scored a first-half hat-trick as Carlo Ancelotti’s side won the trophy, an exhilarating individual performance from the winger in El Clásico.
Vinicius’ treble was just the fifth time a hat-trick has been scored in the iconic fixture between Spanish football’s superpowers since the turn of the century, and we’ve decided to appreciate each player who has achieved the feat.
The players to score an El Clásico hat-trick this century:
Lionel Messi – March 10, 2007 (La Liga)
Lionel Messi delivered one of the most memorable performances of his record-breaking career in a classic Clásico clash between the teams in 2007.
The Argentinian teenager scored the first hat-trick of his career against Barcelona’s arch-rivals, in a thrilling 3-3 draw between the teams at Camp Nou. Three times Madrid took the lead, through Ruud van Nistelrooy’s early brace and Sergio Ramos, but on each occasion Messi equalised.
The 19-year-old became the first player to score an El Clásico hat-trick in 12 years and only the seventh Barcelona player to achieve the feat, in a performance which confirmed his arrival from budding talent to genuine superstar.
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— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 11, 2020
Messi had been one of multiple talents labelled as the next Diego Maradona, though this was a performance which suggested he was more than worthy of that billing. Even in a career that has seen Messi go on to become arguably the greatest of all time, it remains one of his most iconic individual showings.
Iconic Performances: Messi lights up El Clasico with his first ever hat-trick
Lionel Messi – March 23, 2014 (La Liga)
One of the best El Clásico contests of the modern era saw Lionel Messi hand Barcelona a La Liga lifeline at the Bernabeu.
A breathtaking game saw the sides swap seven goals in an end-to-end encounter, that saw the momentum of the occasion ebb and flow. Barcelona took the lead through Andres Iniesta, but Karim Benzema’s brace turned the game around for Real Madrid.
Messi’s first of the game levelled before half-time, but a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty restored Real’s advantage ten minutes after the break. Another penalty, this time for Barcelona, made it 3-3 as Messi converted from the spot.
The final twist in the tale came from the penalty spot once again, after Iniesta was brought down inside the box. Messi won it to seal his hat-trick and become the record scorer in Clásicos with 21 goals, surpassing Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano.
Luis Suarez – October 28, 2018 (La Liga)
Luis Suarez hit a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 5-1 during the 2018/19 campaign. The Uruguayan was Barcelona’s talisman in the absence of Lionel Messi, scoring three times as the Catalans routed their greatest rivals.
Philippe Coutinho had opened the scoring after finishing a superb team move, and Suarez doubled the host’s lead from the penalty spot. Marcelo’s effort brought Real Madrid back into the game, but Barcelona ran riot in the closing stages to pile the pressure on the struggling capital club.
Suarez headed in his second and completed his hat-trick with a delicate chip before Arturo Vidal rounded off an emphatic win. The result moved Barcelona to the top of the table and left Real Madrid down in ninth, with head coach Julen Lopetegui sacked the following day.
Karim Benzema – April 5, 2023 (Copa del Rey)
Karim Benzema scored a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid overturned a first-leg defeat to beat Barcelona and reach the Copa del Rey final.
Los Blancos were 1-0 down on aggregate ahead of the semi-final return at Camp Nou and the opening exchanges proved a tight affair until Vinicius Junior broke the deadlock – and levelled the tie – in first-half stoppage time.
After the break, Benzema decided the contest. The French forward swept in Real Madrid’s second from Luka Modric’s centre, before scoring from the penalty spot to put his side in control.
Benzema completed his hat-trick, becoming the first Real Madrid player to score a Clásico treble this century, on the counter-attack to book Carlo Ancelotti’s side a place in the final.
Vinicius Junior – January 14 2024 (Spanish Super Cup)
Vinicius Junior was the star of the show in Saudi Arabia as Real Madrid cruised to Spanish Super Cup success.
The Brazilian scored twice inside the opening 10 minutes as Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated their Catalan rivals, celebrating his opener with Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘SIU’ goal celebration at the stadium of Al Nassr, the club where Real Madrid’s record goalscorer currently plays.
Robert Lewandowki’s strike brought Barcelona back into the game, but Vinicius claimed the match ball before half-time, converting from the penalty spot after being fouled inside the area.
???? The HIGHLIGHTS & GOALS you need in your life rn.
???? @RealMadriden 4-1 @FCBarcelona
???? #SUPERCAMPEONES pic.twitter.com/lAiWuePz2P— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) January 14, 2024
Rodrygo scored Real Madrid’s fourth after the break to hand Los Blancos a 13th Spanish Super Cup title.
Read – Five of the best players to play for Barcelona and Real Madrid
See more – Five of the most memorable El Clásico thrashings
