Lionel Messi scored three goals as Barcelona beat Tenerife 0-5 to return to the top of La Liga.

Tenerife started the stronger team and could have easily scored on multiple occasions, but a combination of poor finishing and fine goalkeeping denied the hosts. It was Messi who opened the scoring on 35 minutes, an excellent run from Bojan down the left saw him pull the ball back for Leo to bend the finish home first time into the bottom corner. The lead was doubled moments later when Messi saw his free kick headed in by captain Carles Puyol. If that wasn’t game over, it was shortly later when Bojan played in Messi once more for a simple finish to make the score 3-0 at half time.

The second half was near total domination for Barcelona, with Messi completing his hat trick on 75 minutes with a sublime curling lobbed finish from outside of the area which drew gasps and applause from both the home and away support. The rout was completed in the form of an own goal by the hosts.

The England midfielder rates Barcelona forward Messi as “the closest player” to England’s 1986 nemesis Diego Maradona but believes Fabio Capello can count on a number of key men when England mount their challenge.

Beckham told www.fifa.com: “Messi is one of the best players I’ve played against and also one of the finest players I’ve ever seen. For a little player, he’s so talented. He’s the closest player to Maradona that you can get, and he even plays in a similar passionate way too. He’s successful and a really good person as well. I’m sure he’ll go on to be even more successful in the future.”

Asked who was England’s answer to Messi, the 34-year-old said: “I think we’ve got many key players in our team: Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand – we’ve got players all the way through our team who are exceptional. We’re lucky to have such a talented group of players.

Here are some of the finest moments of the calender year courtesy of elMagicoMessi10:

Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to the award, along with team mates Iniesta and Xavi. Capturing the perfect year for him after winning La Liga, Copa Del Rey, Champions League and most recently being the pivotal force of Pep Guardiola’s all conquering Barcelona squad that defeated Estudiantes in FIFA’s Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Messi will add FIFA’s prestigious title to his Ballon D’or award and his UEFA Club Footballer of the Year crown.

The gap between first and second (Ronaldo) was the highest it’s ever been since the creation of the award back in 1991. Messi scored a record 1073 points, to Ronaldo’s 352. Naturally, Leo was in the FIFA World XI for 2009 which was also revealed at the ceremony.

Speaking before the announcement, Messi said “It is a great joy to be here for the 3rd consecutive year. It is the culmination of a year that cannot be improved upon.” Once the trophy was presented Messi remaked the following: “No, please, I am not king of the world now, nor the number one, I don’t believe in those things. I am the same person as always and I have the good fortune to play in a great team. It was an historic year for Barca and for me but it’s thanks to the work of everyone.”

Yet another personal accolade was added to Messi’s collection on this day too, as in a ceremony after the match, Messi was handed the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament, having finished the tournament with two goals, one of which was the winner in the final.

The Silver award went to Juan Sebastian Veron, the veteran midfielder, who was still the major driving force behind Estudiantes. Finally, the bronze award went to Xavi the midfield maestro of Barcelona.

It was the Argentines who struck first, with the Catalan rear guard looking frail once again. Juan Diaz put in an inch perfect cross from the left and Mauro Boselli got in between his two markers, Eric Abidal and Carles Puyol, to bury his header past Victor Valdes. The goal came totally against the run of play but the half time score remained 1-0 to Estudiantes.

Pep Guardiola responded by introducing Pedro on the wing but Barcelona couldn’t find the goal they needed. Ibrahimovic and Pedro went closest, both spurning good chances when in on goal. However, Barcelona were not to be denied, as Gerard Pique headed on a long ball from Ibrahimovic to Pedro, who made no mistake in looping his header over the keeper and into the goal in the 89th minute. This meant the game would be decided by extra time or penalties.

Barcelona dominated the extra period, with Messi curling a free kick over the bar, and the Argentine and Ibrahimovic both failing to hit the target with further openings. The goal was to eventually come in the 110th minute, as Dani Alves’ pin-point cross picked out Messi, who lunged forward to divert the ball into the goal with his chest.

In the Post-Match press conference, a journalist jokingly asked Pep Guardiola if the team had been practising Messi’s chested goal routine. “Oh we’ve been training that routine every single day” Pep replied. “In fact at half time I took Leo aside and told him I wanted a goal from him from that came from his heart. He scored that goal with his heart.”

Things did not start well for the Catalans with Guillermo Rojas latching onto a ball which split the Barca back line, before lofting the ball over Valdes for an early lead. Barcelona maintained a high level of possession throughout the first half, and eventually were able to equalise through Sergio Busquets who lashed in from a set piece.

Pep Guardiola introduced the Argentine Messi after 52 minutes, and the decision paid dividends as he scored a goal shortly after his arrival. A perfect through ball from Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Messi through on goal, and he was able to go round the goalkeeper and slot into the goal to put the Blaugrana in the lead.

Pedro was able to add a third goal as Barcelona ran out comfortable winners. They will face the Copa Libertaores winners – the Argentinian Estudiantes – in Sundays final.