Just 24 hours after the Portuguese's brilliant hat-trick against Atletico Madrid, the Argentine put on a show at Camp in a 5-1 win over Lyon
They may now be playing in different countries but the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rumbles on and on.
Having watched the former Real Madrid striker score a hat-trick to send Juventus through to the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night, the Barcelona captain put on a spectacular show of his own a day later.
The Argentine was sensational as he struck two and set up two more as the Catalans thrashed Olympique Lyonnais 5-1 to earn their place in Friday's draw.
After a goalless last 16 first leg in France left this clash evenly poised at Camp Nou, a special Messi and a special Barca display helped the Catalans ease past determined, clever opponents.
The first half in particular will go down as perhaps Barcelona's best team performance of the season, even if it was in the second that Messi rose head and shoulders above the rest.
The last two times Barcelona played with this much intensity and connection between each line of their team were the Copa del Rey final in 2018, a 5-0 win over Sevilla, and earlier this season in the Champions League, in the first half of a 4-2 win at Tottenham Hotspur.
What links those games? As well as being high-pressure matches in cup competitions, Philippe Coutinho also played well and scored in both. The Brazilian was on target again here, in his finest performance of the season.
It has been a miserable campaign for the €160 million forward, who has been drowning at Camp Nou. Handed yet another chance thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s hamstring tweak, Coutinho took it with both hands.
This was a ‘plugged-in’ performance, showing speed of thought and invention which he has badly lacked this season.
Why did this kind of display come up now? It’s hard to say for certain but the drive Messi offered the team as captain propelled everyone forward.
The Argentine star is not accustomed to chasing back and making tackles back in his own half but he twice came back deep to rob the ball and start attacks.
It was Messi at the start of the season who gave a speech to the fans about being determined to win the Champions League, having seen Madrid lift the trophy three years running.
Despite having the best player in the world, and of all time, in their ranks, Barcelona have lifted the European Cup just once in the last seven years.
Messi is on a one-man mission to change that and broke the deadlock with a perfectly executed Panenka penalty. “We mean business,” it screamed.
Luis Suarez was a leader too, in many ways. As well as setting a fantastic example in work-rate and performance level, he was supportive, applauding Coutinho for trying to press the defence, even though it’s not the Brazilian’s favourite pastime.
Suarez teed up Coutinho for the second, with a wonderful piece of control on the edge of the box and a dart forward, before squaring for his team-mate.
The first moment the Catalans let their concentration levels slip, Lyon capitalised, with Lucas Tousart smashing home after a scramble in the box.
It sucked the air out of Barcelona for a moment and memories of their painful elimination against Roma quickly surfaced, but Messi put a lid on them.
The Argentine secured progress in a quick-fire burst of pure creativity. One mazy dribble left, then right, bamboozled the defence and he squeezed home the third.
Then he set up Gerard Pique and Dembele for two more goals as Barca racked up a big scoreline which speaks volumes for their intentions this season.
Messi is determined to write Barcelona’s name on the trophy.
Longlife2000
182
Thats the difference! 😂🙈👌
KINGLMD10S
135
if you want to watch the beauty of football, meet#messi if you want to watch the passion for football #meet Ronaldo, who agrees?? these two are just too good for the football world now
Akinkuade90
93
Please, Messi is never in competition with Christiano Ronaldo. Messi has said over and over again but the papers need to sell. Messi is the kind of player I will always want in my team because he is a team player that cares about the team's progress than his own ambition.
boombox
87
I really don't understand how people would compare Ronaldo masterclass yesterday to this, they were are the verge of going out of the champions league with much pressure on him and he scored a hattrick in the best defense in Europe talk with sense man don't dare compare
saodeikru
72
Ronaldo and Messi should be banned from football!!! They make football looks like an easy game!!! Ballon d'or 2018 update Best player in the world, Modric has crashed out 2nd best player in the world, Ronaldo, is still in UCL 3rd best player in the world, Mbappe, has crashed out 4 th best player in the world, Griezmann, has crashed out 5 th best player in the world, Messi, is still in the UCL Ronaldo and Messi again Some things never change. GOATs!!!
lloydisaiahbankx
69
Messi doesn't have to prove anything when we already know what is capable of doing in the Pitch He makes football so awesome 👏👏👏👏 Is talented , gifted and so naturally The Pic was designed by me 💝❤️
Susamsz
58
whoever wrote that both performances matched each other, doesnt deserve to know football, scoring a hatrick in the return leg against a team with the worlds best defence and a keeper rated 90, with boos and trolls from fans and opponents, thats simply incomparable, to top it all up, he stated he will score 3 before the match and scored the three, thats far beyond beating a team from the farmers league, and scoring a brace when under no pressure
Emmybarça
58
Summary of the match! one mezy dribble left,then right bamboozled defence and he squeeze home the third
Mozdistz
46
Forca Barca a scintillating performance from the man Lionel Messi also called the goat 2 goals and 2 assists in a single ucl match is unbelievable.Vamooooos catalans
Shadel22
37
Name : Messi Job : Goat Messi is the most perfect player you ever find high up the pitch scoring goals and getting assist to and also tracking back and helping I. defense.
Fajupk
9
I really don't understand how people would compare Ronaldo masterclass yesterday to this, they were are the verge of going out of the champions league with much pressure on him and he scored a hattrick in the best defense in Europe talk with sense man don't dare compare
You really don’t understand what football is all about. Being a Messi fan and at the same time a true admirer of Ronaldo, we have been saying not to compare Ronaldo with Messi. Ronaldo is doing his only business of goal scoring, while Messi scored, assists, creates chances and controls the whole game. Messi is always superior in all football aspects. Ronaldo is a great finisher but Messi is a team player. Will give you a simple example by last UCL. Ronaldo scored 13 goals Messi scored 6, but Messi got 6 MOTM award while Ronaldo managed to get only 4 despite scoring 13. That’s the difference. Ronaldo is always remembered for one good game out of 10, but Messi will be remembered by one bad game out of 10 cuz he does it on a regular basis. That’s why it’s better for you go through player ratings. Messi has 9.2 average rating but Ronaldo has 7.6 on current UCL.