In just 42 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season, Messi has 45 goals. Two of those ended Manchester United’s Champions League run in the quarter-finals as he inspired victory in the second leg at the Nou Camp, Barcelona’s official stadium.
Manchester United, already trailing 1-0 from the first leg of the draw, started sharply but were unfortunately undone by sheer brilliance from Messi and an obvious mistake from goalkeeper David de Gea.
Messi put Barcelona on the scoreboard with a fine curling effort from 20 yards out in the 16th minute of the game. Less than five minutes later, De Gea was destroyed by Messi again with a weaker shot from the edge of the area squirm under his body.
In the 61st minute, Philippe Coutinho added a third for Barcelona with a perfectly curled and stunning effort into the top corner from distance.
Although the first 40 seconds were intense against Barcelona – as Marcus Rashford hit the bar – Manchester United lost drive after conceding the two goals by Lionel Messi.
The closest the visitors came in the second half came from Alexis Sanchez’s diving header in the 90th minute of the game. Unfortunately, Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc Andre ter Stegen spectacularly saved it.
Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was unhappy about the loss, which happened on the very ground he scored the stoppage-time winner for Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final.
Barca will now meet the winner of Liverpool versus Porto in the semi-final of the Champions League tie, with the Reds already marching with a 2-0 lead into Wednesday’s second leg.