<P> Towards the end of the campaign, Messi scored the only goal in a 1--0 away win over Atlético Madrid on 17 May, securing the La Liga title . Among his 43 league goals that season was a hat - trick scored in 11 minutes against Rayo Vallecano on 8 March, the fastest of his senior career; it was his 32nd hat - trick overall for Barcelona, allowing him to overtake Telmo Zarra as the player with the most hat - tricks ever in Spanish football . Additionally, as the season's top assist provider with 18 assists, he surpassed Luís Figo as the player with the most assists in La Liga; he made his record 106th assist in a fixture against Levante on 15 February, in which he also scored a hat - trick . Messi then scored twice as Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao 3--1 in the Copa del Rey final on 30 May, achieving the sixth double in their history . His opening goal was hailed as one of the greatest in his career; he collected the ball near the halfway line and beat four opposing players, before feinting the goalkeeper to score in a tight space by the near post . The goal was later named one of the three final nominees for the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award . </P> <P> In the Champions League, Messi scored twice and assisted on another in their 3--0 semi-final victory over Bayern Munich, now under the stewardship of Guardiola . His second goal, which came only three minutes after his first, saw him chip the ball over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after his dribble past Jérôme Boateng had made the defender drop to the ground; it went viral, becoming the year's most tweeted about sporting moment, and was named the best goal of the season by UEFA . Despite a second - leg loss, Barcelona progressed to the final on 6 June in Berlin, where they defeated Juventus 3--1 to win their second treble, becoming the first team in history to do so . Although Messi did not score, he participated in each of his side's goals, particularly the second as he forced a parried save from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from which Suárez scored the match - winning goal on the rebound . In addition to being the top assist provider with six assists, Messi finished the competition as the joint top scorer with ten goals, which earned him the distinction of being the first player ever to achieve the top scoring mark in five Champions League seasons . For his efforts during the season, he received the UEFA Best Player in Europe award for a second time . </P> <P> Messi opened the 2015--16 season by scoring twice from free kicks in Barcelona's 5--4 victory (after extra time) over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup . A subsequent 5--1 aggregate defeat against Athletic Bilbao in the Supercopa de España ended their expressed hopes of a second sextuple, with Messi scoring his side's only goal . On 16 September, he became the youngest player to make 100 appearances in the UEFA Champions League in a 1--1 away draw to Roma . On 26 September, Messi sustained an injury in Barcelona's match against Las Palmas; tests later confirmed that he suffered a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee, ruling him out for six to eight weeks . He finally returned to the pitch on 21 November, making a substitute appearance in Barcelona's 4--0 away win over rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico . Messi capped off the year by winning the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup Final on 20 December, collecting his fifth club trophy of 2015 as Barcelona went on to defeat River Plate 3--0 in Yokohama . Messi also won the tournament's Silver Ball, despite missing the semi-final . On 30 December, Messi scored on his 500th appearance for Barcelona, in a 4--0 home win over Real Betis . </P> <P> On 6 January 2016, recording Barcelona's first goal of the new year, Messi scored two goals and assisted the other two in a 4--1 derby win over Espanyol at the Camp Nou, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2015--16 Copa del Rey . Five days later, Messi won the FIFA Ballon d'Or for a record fifth time in his career . On 3 February, he scored a hat - trick in Barcelona's 7--0 win against Valenciain the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at the Camp Nou, also scoring his 500th career goal in the process, including youth competitions . With teammate Luis Suárez scoring the other four goals in the same match, this was the first time that two players had scored at least three goals each at Camp Nou, and the first time since Luis Suárez Miramontes and Justo Tejada in 1956 . The feat had only occurred three times before in the club's history, all at Camp de Les Corts . The next league match at Camp Nou, a 6--1 win against Celta de Vigo, Messi assisted Suárez from a penalty kick . Some people saw it as "a touch of genius", while others criticised it as being disrespectful to the opponent . The Celta players, however, never complained and their coach defended the penalty, stating, "Barca's forwards are very respectful ." The penalty routine has been compared to that of Barça icon Johan Cruyff in 1982, who was battling lung cancer, leading many fans to indicate that the penalty was a tribute to him . Cruyff himself was "very happy" with the play, insisting "it was legal and entertaining". </P>

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