'Only one GOAT': Messi shows up Ronaldo in crazy Champions League drama
Lionel Messi has scored a brace as Barcelona strolled past Manchester United and into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in four years, as Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was not enough for Juventus against giant-killing Ajax.
Messi’s first-half goals – the second a gift from David de Gea – and Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant strike helped Barca to a 3-0 victory on Tuesday night and 4-0 overall over United.
The return of United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the Nou Camp, where he scored a last-gasp 2-1 over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, brought no new joy as the Red Devils were unable to produce another upset after ousting Paris Saint-Germain in the previous round.
Like in the first leg, Ronaldo headed Juve ahead but his dream of a sixth personal title was ended by goals from Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt as Ajax won 2-1 in Turin and 3-2 on aggregate.
The Dutch four-time champions have now ousted both 2018 finalists, after they stunned three-time reigning champions Real Madrid in the last 16.
Five-time winners Barca will face either Porto or Liverpool in the last four while Ajax are awaiting the winner of the Premier League duel between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
The semi-finals are April 30/May 1 and May 7/8, with the June 1 final at Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Barca survived an early scare when Marcus Rashford fired onto the top of the bar with less than a minute gone.
The hosts were on top in the 16th when United lost the ball in their half. Messi ran past two defenders and curled into the bottom left corner from just outside the area.
Four minutes later goalkeeper de Gea let Messi’s tame shot slip under his body and into the net for 2-0 and the Argentine’s 110th goal of the competition.
De Gea partly redeemed himself by stopping Sergi Roberto’s shot at the far post.
Messi almost had a hat-trick when his bicycle kick in the 64th flew just wide of the goal.
In-between Coutinho had found the top right corner from long range for Barca’s third.
Juve led at home in the 28th with their talisman Ronaldo nodding home off a corner kick for his 126th goal in the competition.
But Ajax were level six minutes later whe Van de Beek controlled what appeared to be an attempted shot and kept his cool to slot into the bottom right corner.
De Ligt’s thumping header off a corner in the 67th put the visitors ahead on the night and in the tie and they held on for a famous victory.
‘Only one GOAT’
Fans certainly saw the irony that Messi had thrived on a night where Ronaldo was ousted.
So Messi going through and Ronaldo going home? pic.twitter.com/kN7irBq8UG
— khaleesi (@tamija_x) April 16, 2019
Why is the Messi v Ronaldo thing still a debate 🤷🏻♂️
— Sean Mitchell (@Mitchell6767) April 16, 2019
#UCL Messi is a GOAT. Ronaldo is a kid
— Silva Kazibwe™ (@silva_kaz) April 16, 2019
I'm a huge Ronaldo fan but I have to say
"MESSI is the GOAT"
💯— SC: asdrawnbymek 👻 (@Ibo_Boi_) April 16, 2019
Messi out here dominating to get into the semis meanwhile Ronaldo is getting knocked out by Ajax, you know who the real goat is 🤷♂️🐐 #Messi #Ronaldo #UCL pic.twitter.com/MRwtmZWubw
— Ben (@bredwood11) April 16, 2019
Would’ve been nice to have a Messi v Ronaldo final but at least “the debate” is over until at least September.
— MJB (@MylesBurrell) April 16, 2019
Messi will win:
6th golden boot
6th Balon d'or
5 UCL and trebleRonaldo is finished pic.twitter.com/Q2kKVWkwLb
— Luis (suspended) (@LR10Elite_) April 16, 2019
Messi singlehandedly leads Barca to victory against the greatest English Club of All time same day as Ronaldo lost out to a bunch of underaged teens.
There is only one GOAT🐐#BARMUN pic.twitter.com/XpL87oZxtO— IRUNNIA. (@Irunnia2) April 16, 2019