Lionel Messi treble breaks Champions League record as Barcelona run riot

Lionel Messi became the all-time top scorer in the Champions League, scoring a hat-trick to reach 74 goals as Barcelona tore APOEL apart in Nicosia.

The game also marked the first goal of Luis Suarez's Barcelona career, with the former Liverpool striker turning brilliantly and guiding a shot into the bottom corner.

But the night belonged to Messi, who stuck out a leg to redivert Rafinha's shot to score one of his most unremarkable Champions League goals, but chalk up one of his most significant and become the outright holder of the record.

There was more to come from Messi in the second half, with Dani Alves spotting the Argentine's run with an inch-perfect through ball with Messi delicately dinking it over the advancing goalkeeper.

Messi tapped in late on to complete a right-footed hat-trick, with the treble putting him three clear of the 71-goal record set by Real Madrid legend Raul and four clear of the 70 goals scored by his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

The result was soured slightly for Barcelona with a yellow card for Dani Alves for handball, which rules him out of the crucial group decider against Paris Saint-Germain.

There were also second half red card for Barcelona youngster Rafinha, whose naive challenge on Tomas De Vincenti saw him receive his second yellow. APOEL's Leme Joao Guilherme was also dismissed late on after being shown his second booking of the game.

2' BARCA CHANCE! A chance inside two minutes for Messi, and you'd expect him to score, but his effort is too close to Pardo, who stood up well to the shot.

27' GOAL! APOEL 0-1 Barcelona: Suarez spins away from his marker and sees his deflected shot wrong foot the goalkeeper.

38' GOAL! APOEL 0-2 Barcelona: Messi scores his record-breaking 72nd Champions League, surpassing the record set by Real Madrid great Raul. Not his finest goal as he sticks a leg out to redivert Rafinha's shot past Pardo, but a very special one for the Argentine.

52' BARCA CHANCE! Messi inspires another swift move as he finds Pedro, whose low shot flashes agonisingly wide of the far post.

58' GOAL! APOEL 0-3 Barcelona: Messi makes it 3-0! It's a lovely goal as Alves slides in an inch-perfect pass to Messi, who dinks it delicately over the goalkeeper.

66' GREAT SAVE! A brilliant stop by the 22-year-old German goalkeeper Ter Stegen after a thunderous shot from APOEL substitute Tomás De Vincenti.

70' RED CARD! It's a second booking for Barcelona's 21-year-old Rafinha as he brings down De Vincenti with a clumsy challenge.

84' RED CARD! A reckless challenge by Guilherme on Pedro sees him receive his second yellow card.

87' GOAL! APOEL 0-4 Barcelona: Messi completes his hat-trick and is now up to 74 Champions League goals! Pedro cuts it back at the far post and Messi taps in.

Lionel Messi has now scored more goals in the Champions League/European Cup than any other player.

Lionel Messi has now scored 35 goals in his last 31 Champions League appearances.

Xavi has now made 145 appearances in the Champions League, more than any other player. Real Madrid's Iker Casillas has played 144 times.

All three of Lionel Messi's goals for Barcelona were scored with his right foot.

Can Barcelona top the group? It all comes down to their final match against group leaders Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou in a couple of weeks. But their cause won't be helped by Dani Alves, whose yellow card for handball rules him out of the group decider.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - Who else? 74 goals from 92 Champions League games is a truly extraordinary return by a player who seems to get better and better. Will he reach 100? Of course he will.

APOEL Nicosia: Pardo 7, Mario Sergio 6, Guilherme 5, Carlao 6, Antoniades 6, Tiago Gomes 6, Nuno Morais 6, Vinicius 6, Aloneftis 6, Manduca 6, Sheridan 6. Subs: De Vincenti 7, Djebbour 6, Efrem 6.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 8, Dani Alves 7, Pique 7, Bartra 7, Jordi Alba 7, Mascherano 7, Rakitic 6, Rafinha 6, Pedro 6, Suarez 7, Messi 9. Subs: Adriano 7, Busquets 7, Xavi 7.