Lineker leads Messi plaudits as Barcelona star embarrasses Jones

Lionel Messi performed his magic once again during Barcelona's Champions League clash with Manchester United on Tuesday night.

The Barcelona star scored twice in the first half to put the hosts in the driving seat of the quarter-final but it wasn't just his goals that dragged everyone out of their seats.

Gary Lineker, Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand were left stunned by a piece of trickery from the Argentine wizard against Phil Jones at the Nou Camp.

Messi picked the ball up just inside the United half before turning past the English defender with his pace and close control but it wasn't over. The 31-year-old then nutmegged Jones with ease, turning him inside out yet again before the hosts nearly added a third.

And Lineker led the Messi plaudits at half-time, joking on BT Sport: 'He turned Phil Jones inside out so many times here that his bandage loosened.'

Former United midfielder Hargreaves was in awe of Messi's performance as well, claiming he has put in a 'masterclass'.

Hargreaves added: 'Everybody got off their seats. He dragged everybody out of their seats, honestly.

'We said before the game it could be a Messi masterclass and it has been. He has been absolutely extraordinary.'

Fans on social media were quick to jump on the bandwagon, with one fan joking Messi sent Jones 'back to Manchester', while another user said the defender 'should consider retirement after this'.