Monday cover: Lionel Messi’s gift to Barcelona

The National's Sport cover for the Monday, December 8 issue, featuring Barcelona's Lionel Messi recording his 21st hat-trick for the Catalan club.

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The National’s Sport cover for the Monday, December 8 issue, featuring Barcelona’s Lionel Messi recording his 21st hat-trick for the club in a 5-1 victory over Espanyol.

"There's no words to describe Messi. He's given us so much that I genuinely think it's not possible to say everything that he's done for us," said Gerard Pique after the match.

The hat-trick kep Messi on pace with Cristiano Ronaldo, who just the day before on Saturday set the new La Liga record with his 23rd triple.

The win, similarly, keeps Barcelona within striking distance of leaders Real Madrid in La Liga, two points off their pace in second.

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