WATCH: Lionel Messi scores a typically brilliant hat-trick vs. Espanyol

Lionel Messi has picked up right where he left off before the international break by finding the next for the third time in the opening three matches of the La Liga season. He’s given Barcelona a lead 26 minutes in at home against Espanyol. He may have been offside, but he won’t care as he collected a Ivan Rakitic pass, made a defender go flying, and finished superbly into the top corner to give the Blaugrana the lead.

Update: Make it 4 in 3.

Update #2: ‘Tis a hat-trick...