Messi celebrates in style

Lionel Messi, the 2010 Ballon d'Or winner, hit a hat-trick in Barca's 5-0 Copa del Rey win over Real Betis.

Ballon d'Or winner hits a hat-trick as Barca cruise

Lionel Messi celebrated his coronation as the world's greatest player with a hat-trick for Barcelona in a 5-0 victory over second division Real Betis in their Copa del Rey quarter-final first leg. The Argentine won the 2010 Fifa Ballon d'Or on Monday, ensuring he retained title of the best footballer on the planet after securing the honour in 2009. Messi duly demonstrated why he is considered a cut above the rest with a trademark display as Pep Guardiola's Barcelona earned a comfortable first-leg lead. The 23-year-old opened the scoring one minute before half-time and netted his second shortly after the hour mark. Messi then completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute, while there was still time for Pedro (77) and Seydou Keita (83) to add fourth and fifth goals.