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Jonathan White

The reaction on social media to Lionel Messi’s Uefa Champions League masterclass has been overwhelming.
A brace from the Argentine ensured that Barcelona took control of their tie against Liverpool, winning 3-0 at the Camp Nou.
It was his second on the night, and his 600th for the club, that took the breath away. He curled a stunning free kick into the top corner of Brazilian international Alisson Becker’s goal, which led to the “Messi600” hashtag trending on Twitter.
Reaction has come from the millions of Messi fans around the world, which includes a high number of professional footballers.

#Messi: Always flying by the seat of his pants. pic.twitter.com/fga2rYVzVM
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 2 May 2019

Barcelona’s official Twitter account has led the fun, joking that their captain is “always flying by the seat of his pants”.
The club also shared a video of a group of fans watching the Messi free kick in a restaurant. Their response to the goal is to take their tops off in delight.
“This is the way to celebrate Messi’s 600th goal,” they wrote.

This is the way to celebrate #Messi's 6⃣0⃣0⃣th goal
How did you react? #Messi600pic.twitter.com/hpWIxUr9rC
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 1 May 2019

Barcelona’s social media have a history of enjoying Messi’s big moments in the Champions League. Just last month they posted a picture of him after the Manchester United game captioned “Messi’s at the wheel,” a riff on the English side’s “Ole’s at the wheel” chant. Messi’s brace was key to the Manchester side being knocked out.

26 - Lionel Messi now has 26 goals in 33 appearances against English clubs in the Champions League; no player has more against teams from a particular country in the competition's history (level with Cristiano Ronaldo v German clubs). Unstoppable. #FCBLIV pic.twitter.com/FuuNxeCMHq
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 1 May 2019

Messi’s goals against Liverpool mean he has now scored 26 goals against English teams, as noted by the Opta Joe account.
No player has scored more against opposition from a single country – Messi is tied with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The pair are also tied on 600 club goals, with Messi having joined the club just days after the Portuguese.

Lionel Messi has now scored 600 goals for Barcelona
Liverpool are the 76th team he has scored past for Barca
Scored his 1st senior goal 14 years ago today in 2-0 La Liga win v Albacete, May 1st 2005
Has reached 600 senior club goals in 118 games fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo: pic.twitter.com/870GTkKiw2
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) 1 May 2019

Sky Sports Statto points out that Messi has reached the feat in 118 fewer games.
The pair join an exclusive club of just seven footballers.
They follow Brazilians Pele and Romario, Hungary’s Ferenc Puskas, Germany’s Gerd Muller and Josef Bican, who played for Slavia Prague.

Lionel Messi has scored 600 career club goals, the seventh player in history to reach the milestone!
Cristiano Ronaldo
Pelé
Romário
Josef Bican
Gerd Müller
Ferenc Puskás
UNREAL free kick! #Messi600 pic.twitter.com/iYYro2ES1K
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 1 May 2019

A graphic showing Messi has scored more goals against England’s top six than Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney has been widely shared.
Users are also pointing out Messi has never played in the English Premier League.

Lionel Messi scored a double in Barcelona's 3-0 win over Liverpool.
He has more goals against England's top six than Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.
Messi has never played in the Premier League.#BARLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/ZTjWjHTWLA
— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) 1 May 2019

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu offered his own praise of the one-club man on what he described as an “unforgettable night”.
Bartomeu called Messi a “genius” on Twitter and described him as “A figure that will never be seen again in the world of football.”

#Messi600
Another achievement on an unforgettable night.
A genius. A figure that will never be seen again in the world of football. pic.twitter.com/ixGNDfimHK
— Josep Maria Bartomeu (@jmbartomeu) 1 May 2019

Former Barcelona striker Gary Lineker, who has a photo of him and his family with Leo Messi as his Twitter background picture, was effusive in his praise.
Lineker called Messi a “little genius” and wrote that he “defies logic”.
The former England international was broadcasting the game in the UK on BT Sport and his reaction to the free kick was shared by Rio Ferdinand.

WOW! Just Wow. Messi scores his 600th goal for @FCBarcelona with as good a freekick as you’ll ever see. The little genius defies logic.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) 1 May 2019

Ferdinand was sat next to Lineker as a pundit for the game and shared a video from the studio as the ball went in the back of the net.
“U have to get excited,” wrote the former Manchester United and England defender.

Reaction when #Messi hits his 600th goal for @FCBarcelona... u have to get excited! Wow ⚽️ ps. Get the sound on #barcalfc #UCL pic.twitter.com/PlgFtZJvHF
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) 1 May 2019

BT Sport posted their own tweet using a popular meme.
“This is Lionel Messi’s world, we’re just living in it,” they wrote.
There are plenty of his fellow professionals who would agree with that.

This is Lionel Messi's world, we're just living in it pic.twitter.com/nc6evnbvd7
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 1 May 2019

Italy international Mario Balotelli is in that camp. The striker posted on his Instagram stories with a caption that puts him firmly on Team Messi.
“For the love of football please do not compare him to the No. 7 of Juventus anymore!” Balotelli wrote in reference to Cristiano Ronaldo. He added two clapping hand emojis and a football.
He was not the only one.

Woof, Balotelli tackling Cristiano Ronaldo, writing on Instagram:
“Please, for the sake of football, do not compare ever anymore Messi to the 7 of Juventus”
!!! pic.twitter.com/CkLWUlC65u
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) 1 May 2019

England international James Maddison tweeted during the game.
“I’m honestly so grateful to be in the same era as Lionel Messi and to watch him live on my television,” wrote the Leicester City footballer.

Im honestly so grateful to be in the same era as Lionel Messi and to watch him live on my television
— James Maddison (@Madders10) 1 May 2019

That is a sentiment that even Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde might share.
A video of the post-match press conference has been circulated on social media, where he says he cannot explain Messi.
“In the end, I don’t know how he does it, but he always does,” he said.
“I’d rather not think about how he does it, to be honest.”

Even Ernesto Valverde isn't sure how Lionel Messi does what he does pic.twitter.com/LJCgl70SKH
— Goal (@goal) 2 May 2019

Spanish newspaper Marca asked for the Ballon d’Or to be given to Messi immediately after his performance against Liverpool.
“Messi should be awarded the Ballon d’Or tomorrow” was the headline on their English website.

Marca. Real Madrid's Marca. "Give Messi the Ballon d'Or tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/uAD0vSQLfE
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) 1 May 2019



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Uefa Champions League

Twitter reacts to Messi’s Champions League masterclass and 600th goal against Liverpool

Barcelona's Leo Messi salutes the Camp Nou crowd after scoring. Photo: EPA

Sport

Football

Fans, former players and fellow pros unite to praise the Argentina international after another stand-out performance
Mario Balotelli asks to see an end to comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo


Fans, former players and fellow pros unite to praise the Argentina international after another stand-out performance


Twitter reacts to Messi’s Champions League masterclass and 600th goal against Liverpool

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Fans, former players and fellow pros unite to praise the Argentina international after another stand-out performance Mario Balotelli asks to see an end to comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo

Fans, former players and fellow pros unite to praise the Argentina international after another stand-out performance

Mario Balotelli asks to see an end to comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo