The genius of Messi! World of football pays tribute to Barcelona's 'Perfect 10'

Lionel Messi's phenomenal goalscoring had already put him among the game’s greats at the age of just 24. Then he became the first player to score five goals in a Champions League game as Bayer Leverkusen were humbled 7-1 on Wednesday night, taking his club tally to 228.



Despite Messi’s youth, that is just seven short of equalling the Barcelona scoring record and on Thursday it prompted the sport’s biggest names to claim he is now in a league of his own.



These experts - and statistics - explain why Magical Messi might just be better than Pele and Maradona....



Perfect 10: Lionel Messi became the first player to score five in a Champions League game

Even they can't help it: Real Madrid supporting newspaper Marca heaped praise on their rivals' star man

Pep Guardiola, Barcelona coach

‘There is no other like him. The numbers speak for themselves. One day he’ll score six. We’ll never see a player like him again. We just try to make sure he gets the ball. After that our task is done. The throne belongs to him and only he will decide when he wants to relinquish it.’



Marca, Spanish newspaper supportive of Barcelona’s bitter rivals Real Madrid

‘The Little Hand of God.’



Eric Cantona, Manchester United legend

‘Messi is an exceptional player. When you watch him it is as if he has this child inside him and he is making some childhood dream come true. He doesn’t see himself as a star. This is a great player not only for today but for tomorrow.’



Gary Lineker, former Barcelona striker

‘The fella’s a genius! Best ever by a distance in my lifetime. Souness, Gullit, Venables and now Rooney agree Messi is the best they have seen. He plays a game with which we are not familiar.’



Five star: Messi has scored twice as many goals in Europe this season as his nearest rival

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United striker

‘Messi is a joke - for me the best ever.’



Alan Smith, former Arsenal striker

‘I had the pleasure of once sharing a pitch with Diego Maradona. Up until now, he is the best player I had ever seen. Yet Messi takes things further. The best ever.’



Demba Ba, Newcastle United striker

‘Is Messi a human being?’



LIONEL MESSI, THE STATISTICS Messi has scored 97 goals in his last 100 competitive fixtures for Barcelona

This is the third season in a row that Messi has reached the 40-goal mark

Messi has won World Player of the Year in the previous three seasons Messi has provided 77 assists in 265 La Liga and Champions League games for Barca

Messi has won every trophy possible at Barcelona, 18 in total, including three Champions Leagues and five La Liga titles

Messi’s Champions League goal tally of 12 this season is double that of his nearest rival

Franz Beckenbauer, German legend

‘Messi is a genius. On the one hand, he is very skilful and intelligent, with a left foot like Diego Maradona. On the other hand, he has some of the things of Bobby Charlton, in the sense that he is a real gentleman.’



Radamel Falcao, Atletico Madrid striker

‘Was that a (Champions League) game or a game of PlayStation for Messi? Untouchable! If he scores six goals, does he get to take home two balls?’



Xavi, Barcelona midfielder

‘Messi’s the best player in the world, and when his career ends, he’ll be the best in history. It is crazy what this guy does. No other player decides a game like him. If he doesn’t score, he is there to give the assist. He is a wonder. He’ll break all records and we should enjoy him.’



Honour: Xavi revealed his pride at being able to play on the same team as Messi

Terry McDermott, Liverpool legend

‘Messi is the best ever. I played in the great Liverpool team of the late 70s and early 80s that ruled Europe but I must say I think this Barcelona team would batter us.’



Robin Dutt, Bayer Leverkusen coach

‘There are really no words to describe his way of playing. His class is just extraordinary, there’s no discussion. Without Messi, Barca are the best team and with him they are in another galaxy.’



