[SPAIN] Barcelona broke a 50-year-old La Liga record held by Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid when it beat Atletico Madrid, 3-0, on Lionel Messi's hat trick for its 16th straight win.

“It is an honor for this team to have surpassed a record that had stood for so long,” Messi said.

With 20 wins and 61 points and 70 goals scored and 11 goals allowed in 22 games, Barca is on course to break records for most wins, points and goals and fewest goals allowed.

“We would not be who we are without Messi on our team,” Barcelona Coach Pep Guardiola said. “To be a great team you need to have a standout player.”

Messi has scored 21 goals in the 16 wins and leagues La Liga with 24 goals. He has scored 40 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season.

“Messi is the best player I have ever seen,” Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. “He is the Di Stefano of the 21st century.”