Two defeats from their opening two Champions League games, Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur will perhaps take some solace from the fact that tonight's defeat to Barcelona came down largely to an astounding Lionel Messi performance.
Picking the pass that sufficiently unnerved Hugo Lloris to allow the Catalans in for their early opener, Messi was imperious throughout.
Ivan Rakitic's screamer notwithstanding, the Argentine star looked a constant threat, and, despite the surprising (and somewhat fortuitous) manner that Spurs retained in contention on the scoreboard, always looked to be capable of pushing on to ensure the win when necessary.
After hitting Lloris' post twice in an almost identical manner in the second-half, a wonderful team-move instigated by Messi was finished off by the Argentine himself to give Barcelona what was a 3-1 lead at the time.
Needless to say, the outstanding night's work from Lionel Messi prompted the latest in what is a long line of love-ins for the Barcelona star.
Messi 👏👏👏🙈🙈🙈
— alan judge (@10judgey) October 3, 2018
Some game this, Messi with two shots off the post one after another and Kane goes up the other side and scores! #TottenhamBarca #EndtoEnd
— Damien Comer (@DamoComer) October 3, 2018
3rd time lucky as they say #Messi #GOAT
— Damien Comer (@DamoComer) October 3, 2018
Does anyone really genuinely think there has ever been a better footballer than Lionel Messi? I mean seriously?
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) October 3, 2018
Fair play great finish from Kane, but.... MESSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 🐐🐐🐐 #RunningTheShow
— Sean O'Sullivan (@SeanTheStorm147) October 3, 2018
561st Barcelona goal for Lionel Messi, who is only 22 months older than Tom Cleverley
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) October 3, 2018
Messi ripping Spurs apart with his passing! 😳
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) October 3, 2018
Best player tonight and best player ever!! 🐐 @TeamMessi @FCBarcelona #ChampionsLeague #SpursBarça
— johnny murtagh (@johnnymurta) October 3, 2018
Messi is the best ever. I mean THE BEST EVER.
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) October 3, 2018
At 3-2, it did look as if Spurs could possibly sneak an unlikely draw against the Spanish champions.
However, with only a few minutes remaining and Spurs chasing a goal, a late mistake allowed Lionel Messi in for his second of the night.
He was never going to miss this!
