Spain: Lionel Messi scores 4 goals to pass 200 in La Liga

sportsillustrated.cnn.com | Jan 27th 2013 3:54 PM

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Lionel Messi scored four goals to pass the 200-mark in the Spanish league, leading Barcelona to a 5-1 rout of Osasuna on Sunday night.

With his 22nd hat trick for Barcelona and fifth game of four goals or more, Messi increased his La Liga goals total to 202. The 25-year-old became the eighth player to reach 200, joining Telmo Zarra (251), Hugo Sanchez (234), Raul Gonzalez (228), Alfredo di Stefano (227), Cesar Rodriguez (223), Quini (219) and Pahino (210).

Messi has 44 goals this season, including 33 in La Liga.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 20th career hat trick in an 11-minute span to lead defending champion Real Madrid over Getafe 4-0.

Barcelona (19-1-1) has an 11-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid (15-3-2), which was at Athletic Bilbao later Sunday. Real Madrid (13-4-4) trails Barcelona by 15 points.

Barcelona hosts Real on Wednesday in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

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