MADRID: Lionel Messi gave a new meaning to the phrase ‘Hand of God’ when he netted a Champions League record five goals in Barcelona’s 7-1 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen.
The Argentina forward has always had to endure comparisons with his compatriot Diego Maradona, who coined the famous phrase after using his fist to score a goal that helped knock England out of the 1986 World Cup.
‘La manita de Dios’ (the little hand of God) was the front page headline on sports dailies Marca and Mundo Deportivo on Thursday, as local media scrambled to find new ways to describe the 24-year-old’s latest goal-scoring feat.
World Player of the Year Messi netted five and youth team winger Tello added two more as the holders crushed the German side 10-2 on aggregate to sweep into their fifth consecutive Champions League quarter-final.
At the end of the match at the Nou Camp, Barca fans waved one hand aloft, open with all the fingers spread wide, in the sign of ‘la manita’ while they chanted his name on Wednesday.
‘The 75,632 spectators that saw it live will be able to say ‘I was there’,’ sports daily AS wrote.
‘Like when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a (NBA) game, when Muhammad Ali beat Sonny Liston, or when Bob Beamon flew (in the long jump) at the Mexico Olympics.’
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s record five-goal haul in the 7-1 Champions League rout of Bayer Leverkusen prompted Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola to hail the Argentine master as the game’s greatest talent.
Guardiola was not alone in his admiration after the defending champions sailed into the quarter-finals on a 10-2 aggregate.
Robin Dutt, the coach of the vanquished Germans, insisted that Messi made Barcelona look as if they came from “another galaxy” while England striker Wayne Rooney took to Twitter to anoint the superstar as “the best ever”. Messi bettered his previous record of four against Arsenal two seasons ago and now has 12 goals from seven Champions League matches this season after a majestic attacking performance from the World Player of the Year.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg, it was always going to be a tough task for Leverkusen with Barca unbeaten in 13 European home games.
Messi struck twice before the break and then hit a further three after the restart while youngster Cristian Tello also grabbed a brace.
“This time Messi got five. Maybe the next time he will get six. These are only figures but he will always keep trying to get another goal because that is his personality,” said Guardiola.
Messi, as always, preferred the under-statement to superlatives.
“I’m happy, it’s great to score a five, but the important thing tonight was the win and to qualify for the quarter-finals. Now, no matter who we meet, it’s going to be very complicated, there are only good sides left in,” he said.
“We know it’s hard for us in the Liga (10 points behind Real Madrid), but we want to defend our Champions League title and we are also keeping in our minds on the Spanish Cup.”
Dutt did not hold back in his praise for Barca and their guiding force.
“There are no words to describe this performance from them, it was extraordinary, there is no doubt,” said Dutt.
“Without Messi, they are still the best but with him they are from another galaxy.”
Both coaches, Pep Guardiola and Dutt showered praise on Messi as did his team mates.
‘It’s not only that he scored goals, but they weren’t easy either. They were fantastic goals and that’s what makes it even more special,’ Spain and Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas told reporters.
On Twitter, Atletico Madrid’s Columbia striker Radamel Falcao said: ‘Was it a Champions League game or one on Playstation? If he scored six would he get two match balls?’
England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney wrote: ‘Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.’ (Agencies)