Lionel Messi: 5 UEFA Champions League performances that prove he is the GOAT

#1 FC Barcelona vs Manchester United, UEFA Champions League Final, 2011

Rampant Barcelona, explosive Messi: The Red Devils were eaten alive by Barcelona's false 9

The best Champions League finals performance ever. Lionel Messi's reputation at 23 was a warning to the Red Devils, but they were no underdogs. Players like Rooney, Giggs, Carrick were all in great shape at that time. But they were no match to the utter brilliance of the Barcelona midfield of Xavi and Iniesta combining with the false 9 Lionel Messi.

To get the first goal, Messi dragged Patrice Evra with him, leaving too much space for Xavi to pick out an unmarked Pedro, who finished without fuss. After a great first half but yet the scoreline on level terms, Barcelona went into the dressing room to seal the deal in the second half. Lionel Messi's attacking grew more and more as the game progressed and he didn't take long to swing his left foot in the second half.

Off a simple pass from Iniesta, he dribbled towards goal away from Ji-Sung Park, the defensive back four held their shape and that was enough for Leo to strike. He dispatched the ball with his left foot before Evra could challenge him, past Van Der Sar's outstretched hand and ran off in delight to celebrate with the fans.

Then he danced around Nani from the right wing, tiptoed into the box in front of Evra and Ferdinand before the ball somehow got to Pedro. Pedro passed to Villa and El Guage sealed the deal for Barcelona at Wembley. Messi went down on both knees to celebrate Villa's goal.

The UEFA Man of the Match and the Fans' Man of the Match for his performance in the best ever Champions League Final.

No answers from the United defence and if you still ask Ferdinand and Carrick about that night, they would refuse to revisit the horror show that was played inside the Wembley cauldron by Messi.