Chris Wood has been likened to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi by football fans after he scored a hat-trick against his former club Newcastle, helping Nottingham Forest claim a 3-1 win on Boxing Day.

The 32-year-old joined the Tricky Trees back in January from Newcastle initially on loan before his move was made permanent in February, after having moved to the Magpies in 2022, where the New Zealander would score five times in 39 appearances.

With Forest going a goal down in the game after Alexander Isac slotted a penalty in the first half, the striker would pull a goal back before half-time.

His second goal was a sublime piece of work, with wood bounding into the box, before weaving his way around three defenders to dink the ball into the back of the net, with fans lauding him for his brilliant piece of work online.

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'Apparently playing against his old club turns Chris Wood into prime Messi?!'

Another said: 'It's Boxing Day and Chris Wood has turned into prime Lionel Messi…'

One added: 'Messi vs Boateng-esque from Chris Wood.'

'Since when did Chris Wood turn into Thierry Henry?' another said, while one fan also likened him to Kylian Mbappe.

'Chris Wood has turned into Kylian Mbappe.'

The striker followed his brace up with a third in the 62nd minute of the game, finding himself one-on-one with the Newcastle goalkeeper before cooly slotting the ball into the back of the net.

Wood ended a six-match goal drought during Forest's 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth earlier this week, but it seems the striker has found his form again, having now scored four times in consecutive appearances.

Speaking to Amazon Prime Sport after the match, Wood said: 'We needed three points and it was fantastic for the side to get it. This is a tough place to come. The boys did extremely well.

'We felt like we did well in the second half, we felt like we were the better side. Nice to get the three points.

'We showed we have quality in this team and a team that will work hard.

'I don't mind where I score! It is nice coming back to Newcastle, I enjoyed my time here, it is a great bunch of lads and staff.'