Barcelonas Lionel Messi hailed as good as Diego Maradona after breathtaking display

By Steve Wilson 830AM GMT eighteen March 2010

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For all Wayne Rooneys abounding talents and implausible form in the Premier League this season, Messi managed to put even the Manchester United brazen in the shade with an additional implausible display.

After scoring a hat-trick opposite Valencia in La Liga on Sunday, Messi scored twice and helped emanate an additional to enthuse Barca at the Nou Camp and send the holders by to the quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.

Champions League and Europa League draws in full Barcelona 4 Stuttgart 0 Bordeaux 2 Olympiakos 1 Champions League fixtures Sport on radio Messi fires Barca by

Messis initial idea saw him pick up the round towards the median line and run at a shocked Stuttgart counterclaim prior to unleashing an unstoppable shot from twenty yards past a infirm Jens Lehmann that set the tinge for the total evening.

"I think he is positively one of the most appropriate in the universe and people are right to have comparisons with Diego Maradona," Stuttgart manager Christian Gross said.

"Its extraordinary when you think he is still usually 22-years-old. Hes only a illusory player."

Messi additionally warranted loquacious regard from his own manager, Pep Guardiola.

"The most appropriate players are regularly in the thick of the action," Guardiola said.

"(Michael) Jordan did it with the Bulls, (Kobe) Bryant does it with the Lakers and Leo does it here.

"We wish him to stay with us since hes the most appropriate and we wouldnt barter him for anyone."

After his opening idea it was Messis perfectly-weighted pass 9 mins after that set Yaya Toure free on the left to cranky for Pedro to measure Barcas second. The Argentine struck again on the hour with a clinical expostulate from the corner of the chastisement area.

They were his seventh and eighth goals in his last 4 matches in all competitions.

Barca President Joan Laporta pronounced one of Messis strengths was his unselfishness.

"The initial to foster the suggestion of the group is Messi himself," Laporta said. "His huge bent entertains us in key moments, but the total group achieved at a illusory level."